Federal trial begins Monday for Kansas church that protests military funerals

[Heartboy]

[quote]KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Court records show Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, will have its day in Federal Court Monday for its lawsuit against the state of Missouri.

Church representatives say the state violates the First Amendment by preventing protests at military funerals. Along with Governor Jay Nixon and Attorney General Chris Koster, Laclede County Sheriff Richard Wrinkle and Prosecutor Angie Hemphill-Wright are named in the lawsuit.

The suit was filed by the leader's wife, Shirley Phelps Roper in 2006 after the state made it a crime to protest an hour before or after a military funeral.

Westboro Baptist and its leader, Fred Phelps, picket at many military funerals saying God wanted the soldiers dead because America is too tolerant of homosexuals.

A jury is scheduled to hear the case in Kansas City starting at 8:30 a.m[/quote]

Thank you Jay Nixon, :patriot:

[Archy]

in other news, rogue WBC members protest federal court lawsuit

[Second-gear-of-]

They are going to lose. Then they will start protesting outside of the court.

[JDK721]

Hopefully they win. Banning them from exercising their First Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent.

[Heartboy]

[QUOTE=JDK721;23461522]Hopefully they win. Banning them from exercising their First Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent.[/QUOTE]

What the fucking hell?

These guys protest everything and you don't want them gone?

[PvtCupcakes]

I don't see how the state can possibly win this.
Why can't someone protest a military funeral? Where does it say that you can't? And even if it did, it makes no sense.

[editline]11:51PM[/editline]

[QUOTE=Heartboy;23461537]What the fucking hell?

These guys protest everything and you don't want them gone?[/QUOTE]

If they can't protest, nobody can protest.

[Heartboy]

[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;23461543]I don't see how the state can possibly win this.
Why can't someone protest a military funeral? Where does it say that you can't? And even if it did, it makes no sense.

[editline]11:51PM[/editline]

If they can't protest, nobody can protest.[/QUOTE]

My cousin was a military soldier and i find what your saying highly disrespectful, come back when you have some respect for those that served.

[Zambies!]

Protesting a funeral is sick.

[JDK721]

[QUOTE=Heartboy;23461537]What the fucking hell?

These guys protest everything and you don't want them gone?[/QUOTE]

They're assholes, but they should have the right to protest. Rights are rights. You don't take them away just because you don't like someone.

[JDK721]

[QUOTE=Heartboy;23461574]My cousin was a military soldier and i find what your saying highly disrespectful, come back when you have some respect for those that served.[/QUOTE]

Don't soldiers take an oath to support and defend the Constitution? Last I checked the First Amendment grants people the right to protest.

[Zambies!]

I don't understand what the group gets out of protesting them? Dick headishness?

[Keeshond v2]

[QUOTE=Heartboy;23461574]My cousin was a military soldier and i find what your saying highly disrespectful, come back when you have some respect for those that served.[/QUOTE]

Free speech is a double edged sword.

Your cousin fought for it.

[Heartboy]

[QUOTE=Keeshond v2;23461621]Free speech is a double edged sword.

Your cousin fought for it.[/QUOTE]

He didn't fight actually, he just enlisted for the $$$

[Leaf Runner]

[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;23461543]
If they can't protest, nobody can protest.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=JDK721;23461522]Hopefully they win. Banning them from exercising their First Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent.[/QUOTE]

ITT: People who have no idea what they're talking about.

Protesting and picketing a funeral of a dead grieving father with signs like "Thank god for dead marine", "God hates america", "Thank god for 9/11", and more is crossing the line. Your son who risked his life to do what he though was right just died, and a bunch of attention whoring assholes show up saying that they were glad he died, and that the very god you worship wanted him dead.

[JDK721]

[QUOTE=Heartboy;23461665]He didn't fight actually, he just enlisted for the $$$[/QUOTE]

And he took an oath to defend and support the Constitution. You don't get to to deny someone freedom of speech just because you don't like them.

[lolwutdude]

[QUOTE=JDK721;23461591]They're assholes, but they should have the right to protest. Rights are rights. You don't take them away just because you don't like someone.[/QUOTE]

yeaaah, but they're literally protesting right behind grieving and traumatized people who lost their loved ones.

there's a line, and you pass it after you reach harassment.

this is like me protesting a guy named JDK721, camp right outside of his house, and call him a faggot who'll burn in hell 24/7

i'm pretty you'll sue for harassment and emotional distress.

When you protest corporations, products, and etc. , your looking to achieve something.

You achieve noting by protesting a funeral, you're just there to be an asshole.

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=JDK721;23461522]Hopefully they win. Banning them from exercising their First Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent.[/QUOTE]

This is your moment of truth, facepunch. If this guy doesn't end up with more agrees than dumbs/disagrees you are officially fascist.

[JDK721]

[QUOTE=Leaf Runner;23461683]ITT: People who have no idea what they're talking about.[/QUOTE]

ITT: People who are basing their decisions on emotions and think it's okay to pick and choose who gets rights.

[QUOTE=Leaf Runner;23461683]Protesting and picketing a funeral of a dead grieving father with signs like "Thank god for dead marine", "God hates america", "Thank god for 9/11", and more is crossing the line.[/QUOTE]

So you want to deny people rights based on what you think is crossing the line?

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=lolwutdude;23461693]
this is like me protesting a guy named JDK721, camp right outside of his house, and call him a faggot who'll burn in hell 24/7

i'm pretty you'll sue for harassment and emotional distress.
[/QUOTE]

He can't if you're not physically interfering with him and remaining on public property.

Just sitting on the sidewalk with signs isn't illegal.

[lolwutdude]

[QUOTE=Zeke129;23461711]This is your moment of truth, facepunch. If this guy doesn't end up with more agrees than dumbs/disagrees you are officially fascist.[/QUOTE]

i dont believe screaming [b]FIRE[/b] in a movie theatre should be legal

all hail Hitlojotalin.

[editline]05:07AM[/editline]

[QUOTE=Zeke129;23461736]He can't if you're not physically interfering with him and remaining on public property.

Just sitting on the sidewalk with signs isn't illegal.[/QUOTE]

jdk721, if you see an asian guy constantly calling you bad names 24/7, whether your indoors or outdoors with him holding a sign saying "BURN IN HELL".

you know who to blame

[Xen Tricks]

First amendment, right to assembly/free speech, etc etc. What JDK said. You're hypocrites if you support other controversial speech but not this

[lolwutdude]

[QUOTE=Xen Tricks;23461793]First amendment, right to assembly/free speech, etc etc. What JDK said. You're hypocrites if you support other controversial speech but not this[/QUOTE]

second amendment, right to bear arms etc

you're a hypocrite if you don't support me walking in the street publically with a Barrett .50cal

[JDK721]

[QUOTE=lolwutdude;23461810]second amendment, right to bear arms etc

you're a hypocrite if you don't support me walking in the street publically with a Barrett .50cal[/QUOTE]

Terrible analogy.

[Kagrenak]

I hope they win, I thought they were going to be suing against a "Not within 100 ft law." I support those, as if they're like 30ft away they're bordering on harassment. But by preventing the protest from reaching the intended audience at all via time constraints, the law is completely disarming them of their right to protest, which is a grave injustice.

[lolwutdude]

[QUOTE=JDK721;23461818]Terrible analogy.[/QUOTE]

no its not, if an extreme demonstration of freedom of speech that includes harassing and inflicting emotional distress on grieving widows and friends of loved ones is allowed,

i don't see why i can't demonstrate extreme example of second amendment by carrying my .50cal.

those north koreans could invade any moment.

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=lolwutdude;23461810]second amendment, right to bear arms etc

you're a hypocrite if you don't support me walking in the street publically with a Barrett .50cal[/QUOTE]

Look, I'd like to see the WBC go to jail too.

But then I catch myself and say "no Zeke, that's wrong!" instead of clinging to my emotions

well I don't think to myself in my facepunch username but you get the point

[Kagrenak]

[QUOTE=lolwutdude;23461838]no its not, if an extreme demonstration of freedom of speech that includes harassing and inflicting emotional distress on grieving widows and friends of loved ones is allowed,

i don't see why i can't demonstrate extreme example of second amendment by carrying my .50cal.

those north koreans could invade any moment.[/QUOTE]

Because the right to extreme forms of speech and protest is not only explicit in the constitution (unlike the right to have a .50 caliber rifle, which at best is implicit) but is a necessary element to the functioning of a free and just society. Even not taking the Constitution into account, (after all, it was written by some guys two centuries ago) it is still one of the most important rights that is offered by a free society.

[doomkiwi]

[QUOTE=JDK721;23461522]Hopefully they win. Banning them from exercising their First Amendment rights sets a dangerous precedent.[/QUOTE]

This man is right. Freedom is a double edged sword, in order for freedom to remain one must realize that although something is rather distasteful by encroaching on it you encroach on your own civil liberties. If one were to outlaw some aspects of free speech, what guards the others from being outlawed as well?

[PvtCupcakes]

[QUOTE=Leaf Runner;23461683]ITT: People who have no idea what they're talking about.

Protesting and picketing a funeral of a dead grieving father with signs like "Thank god for dead marine", "God hates america", "Thank god for 9/11", and more is crossing the line. Your son who risked his life to do what he though was right just died, and a bunch of attention whoring assholes show up saying that they were glad he died, and that the very god you worship wanted him dead.[/QUOTE]

Last I checked, being an asshole isn't illegal. Or you'd be in jail. :smug:

[lolwutdude]

[QUOTE=Kagrenak;23461876]Because the right to extreme forms of speech and protest is not only explicit in the constitution (unlike the right to have a .50 caliber rifle, which at best is implicit) but is a necessary element to the functioning of a free and just society. Even not taking the Constitution into account, (after all, it was written by some guys two centuries ago) it is still one of the most important rights that is offered by a free society.[/QUOTE]

[b]"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."[/b]

that's very explicit sir.

what if north koreans invade, there can't be a citizen militia because we have no guns

let me carry my fucking .50cal rifle damnit, those things can tear tanks to shred, I live in Hawaii, amphibious assault by the North is very plausible.

[editline]05:19AM[/editline]

[QUOTE=Zeke129;23461839]Look, I'd like to see the WBC go to jail too.

But then I catch myself and say "no Zeke, that's wrong!" instead of clinging to my emotions

well I don't think to myself in my facepunch username but you get the point[/QUOTE]

are you saying Zeke is not your real name, sir