Did Westboro Baptist Church Just Get Arrested in Oklahoma? - Polidicks

[quote]Dozens of people are tweeting, retweeting — and celebrating — that members of the hateful Westboro Baptist Church have been arrested in Oklahoma, where they were planning to protest to funeral of 9-year-old tornado victim Nicolas McCabe.[/quote] [URL]http://www.heavy.com/news/2013/05/did-westboro-baptist-church-just-get-arrested-in-oklahoma/[/URL]

[QUOTE]where they were planning to protest to funeral of 9-year-old tornado victim Nicolas McCabe[/QUOTE] Are you fucking kidding me?

If it's true, justice served.

[QUOTE=Dissolution;40774183]Are you fucking kidding me?[/QUOTE] par for the course with these shitbirds bad news is, they'll probably manage to squirrel their way out of this, just like all the other times they've come under legal trouble

I hope they are WBC members.

[QUOTE=Lord of Ears;40774190]par for the course with these shitbirds bad news is, they'll probably manage to squirrel their way out of this, just like all the other times they've come under legal trouble[/QUOTE] as much as I dislike the WBC, them being arrested for protesting is fucking stupid. [editline]25th May 2013[/editline] One thing that the OP failed to mention was that they probably weren't WBC [quote] @SoonerRights4OK Just got word that the arrest was NOT Westboro...but just a couple of "attention getters"[/quote]

[B][I]FUCKING FINALLY![/I][/B] [QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774231]as much as I dislike the WBC, them being arrested for protesting is fucking stupid.[/quote] You're right, being arrested for protesting is stupid. Being arrested for causing emotional distress to people who have already had their home and child taken from them however, is not stupid.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774231]as much as I dislike the WBC, them being arrested for protesting is fucking stupid. [editline]25th May 2013[/editline] One thing that the OP failed to mention was that they probably weren't WBC[/QUOTE] No one knows, some people say it was confirmed they were, some saying confirmed they weren't.

[QUOTE=Dissolution;40774183]Are you fucking kidding me?[/QUOTE]They want you to be mad enough hurt them so they can sue you thus getting more money. They're pretty fucking evil.

aw yeah, homestate represent

[QUOTE=Forumaster;40774242] You're right, being arrested for protesting is stupid. Being arrested for causing emotional distress to people who have already had their home and child taken from them however, is not stupid.[/QUOTE] I would feel more distressed at dozens of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders"]bikers[/URL] revving their engines whenever people try and protest [img]http://i.imgur.com/L03heTy.jpg[/img] I hate the WBC as much as the next guy, but arresting anybody for protesting is a little fucked up.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774296]I would feel more distressed at dozens of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders"]bikers[/URL] revving their engines whenever people try and protest [img]http://i.imgur.com/L03heTy.jpg[/img] I hate the WBC as much as the next guy, but arresting anybody for protesting is a little fucked up.[/QUOTE] Calling what the WBC does "protesting," is a little fucked up.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774296]I would feel more distressed at dozens of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders"]bikers[/URL] revving their engines whenever people try and protest [img]http://i.imgur.com/L03heTy.jpg[/img] I hate the WBC as much as the next guy, but arresting anybody for protesting is a little fucked up.[/QUOTE] It hasnt even been said that they were arrested just for protesting.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774296]I would feel more distressed at dozens of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders"]bikers[/URL] revving their engines whenever people try and protest [img]http://i.imgur.com/L03heTy.jpg[/img] I hate the WBC as much as the next guy, but arresting anybody for protesting is a little fucked up.[/QUOTE] If they were revving engines just to be fags, then I'd be pissed, but if they were revving it to block out a hate group who said my loss is because the almighty GAWD is pissed at our country for allowing gays to marry, then I'd be fine with it. Hell, afterwards I would walk up to every single biker and shake his/her fucking hand.

As far as I'm aware, WBC has never broken any laws. They're scum, nobody is denying that, but it's 100% unfair to make an exception for them in the legal system just because they're so awful. I'd also like to remind everyone that it's questionable whether or not WBC even believe the words they're saying. They're lawyers, so it's entirely likely that they just provoke people into acting against them so they can sue for cashdollarmoney. [QUOTE=Forumaster;40774242][B][I]FUCKING FINALLY![/I][/B] You're right, being arrested for protesting is stupid. Being arrested for causing emotional distress to people who have already had their home and child taken from them however, is not stupid.[/QUOTE] No, it is stupid, because "being an asshole" is not against the law. [QUOTE=Rhenae;40774317]It hasnt even been said that they were arrested just for protesting.[/QUOTE] This is important to keep in mind as well -- we don't yet know if they were arrested, and if they were, what for. So it could be a totally valid reason, but if it's just the same shit they normally do, well, it sucks, but it's acceptable. [editline]a[/editline] Also, I'm not a lawyer, so if WBC [I]is[/I] breaking the law by doing what they do, then I void my argument.

[QUOTE=Beetle179;40774331]As far as I'm aware, WBC has never broken any laws. They're scum, nobody is denying that, but it's 100% unfair to make an exception for them in the legal system just because they're so awful. I'd also like to remind everyone that it's questionable whether or not WBC even believe the words they're saying. They're lawyers, so it's entirely likely that they just provoke people into acting against them so they can sue for cashdollarmoney. [B]No, it is stupid, because "being an asshole" is not against the law.[/B][/QUOTE] Actually, it is, it's called "fighting words": [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words#United_States[/url] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplinsky_v._New_Hampshire[/url] [quote]The fighting words doctrine, in United States constitutional law, is a limitation to freedom of speech as protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 1942, the U.S. Supreme Court established the doctrine by a 9-0 decision in Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire. It held that "insulting or 'fighting words,' those that by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace" are among the "well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech the prevention and punishment of [which] ... have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem."[/quote] Essentially, saying or doing things that have the purpose of starting an immediate fight (breach of the peace) are [I]against the law.[/I]

I'm happy with the laws as they are in my country (Canada). I'm happy they arn't allowed in our country, and there really haven't been any problems(To my knowledge) with our rules against hate groups. (Which they very clearly are)

If they go to court and prove its simply protesting, then we'll have to find another vector to shut them down. However... if we can prove severe emotional trauma as a result of their protests... If someone say... (God forbid) commits suicide and it can be tied to one of their protests? Dude they're fucking gone in a heart beat.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;40774362]Actually, it is, it's called "fighting words": [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words#United_States[/url] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplinsky_v._New_Hampshire[/url] Essentially, saying or doing things that have the purpose of starting an immediate fight (breach of the peace) are [I]against the law.[/I][/QUOTE] But that's the problem. Are they doing it just to start a fight or breach peace? No, they're doing it to get attention, what all protesters do. Their main goal is to have everyone think about, and try to agree with, their message: "All of these bad things happen because America accepts the gay agenda, makes fun of God, etc." If people protested about the pro-life view and used dead fetuses on their pickett signs, should they stop because it causes one person emotional stress? I agree, the world would be a better place if these people didn't exist, but they aren't wrong. Those guys are just as much humans as the next guy and they should be given the same rights.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;40774362]Actually, it is, it's called "fighting words": [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words#United_States[/url] [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplinsky_v._New_Hampshire[/url] Essentially, saying or doing things that have the purpose of starting an immediate fight (breach of the peace) are [I]against the law.[/I][/QUOTE] It's absolutely debatable whether or not they're trying to incite a fight. They want responses, no doubt -- whether they're protesters or aggressive lawyers -- but if they were to be taken to court, I'm sure they could argue their way out of being convicted for fighting words. (Still, I wasn't aware of this, so thank you for bringing it to my attention)

Being as harmful as they are might as well be against the law, if you spend your time making everyone else's lives worse, and not just by a small amount, I mean, past the threshold of just doing something in the grey, and doing something that can really damage them, why should you get away with it? I'm fucking tired of people using, "freedom of speech", or "bodily rights" as an excuse, too. Oh, boo hoo, my right to be a parasitic insect on the underbelly of the human race was violated! If you're using your speech or your body to do permanent damage to people, mental or physical, you're stepping outside of the bounds of those rights. They aren't even protesting for any tangible change, either, as far as I know, so they can go piss off even harder.

The news here said that were arrested for protesting without a permit.

-snip

In addition, it's a state law ( [url]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/18/oklahoma-passes-law-to-restrict-westboro-baptist-protests/[/url] ) that prohibits protesting for two hours before/after and within 1000 feet of a funeral. It was specifically enacted to prevent wbc. I expect that's why they were arrested.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;40774362]Actually, it is, it's called "fighting words": [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words#United_States[/URL] [URL]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplinsky_v._New_Hampshire[/URL] Essentially, saying or doing things that have the purpose of starting an immediate fight (breach of the peace) are [I]against the law.[/I][/QUOTE] What the WBC say isn't fighting words. Its missing the key part of "where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of [a crime]." They say stuff like "God hates fags", not "God says to beat fags" a subtle difference but important. [QUOTE=SadisticGecko;40774626]In addition, it's a state law ( [URL]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/18/oklahoma-passes-law-to-restrict-westboro-baptist-protests/[/URL] ) that prohibits protesting for two hours before/after and within 1000 feet of a funeral. It was specifically enacted to prevent wbc. I expect that's why they were arrested.[/QUOTE] There is a good chance that law wouldn't be considered constitutional if brought to the supreme court.

[QUOTE=Valnar;40774842]What the WBC say isn't fighting words. Its missing the key part of "where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace is guilty of [a crime]." They say stuff like "God hates fags", not "God says to beat fags" a subtle difference but important. There is a good chance that law wouldn't be considered constitutional if brought to the supreme court.[/QUOTE] "God hates fags" is still an incitement to breach the peace if it is likely to cause a breach of peace - e.g. it is said to draw a violent reaction.

Inciting a riot. That's what they should call it.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774231]as much as I dislike the WBC, them being arrested for protesting is fucking stupid. [editline]25th May 2013[/editline] One thing that the OP failed to mention was that they probably weren't WBC[/QUOTE] Still alright to me. Any people doing shit like that should be arrested.

[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40774296]I would feel more distressed at dozens of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders"]bikers[/URL] revving their engines whenever people try and protest [img]http://i.imgur.com/L03heTy.jpg[/img] I hate the WBC as much as the next guy, but arresting anybody for protesting is a little fucked up.[/QUOTE] The Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) is a motorcycle club[2][3][4] in the United States which attends the funerals of members of the armed forces, firefighters, and police at the [b]invitation of the deceased’s family[/b]

If they got arrested for protesting that's fucked up.