As sick as they come.

[BA80]

I don't like this "Church" a bit, but at what point do you lose your Constitutional rights simply because people don't like the message you may be spewing? I think this could become a very slippery slope if once started down.

No one is violating anyones rights Tod. Just exercising them.

They have the right to be disgusting idiots and disrespect people and make them miserable and everyone has the right to make their life miserable because of it. When it comes right down too it they deserve just what they give.

If that's wrong then I'm wrong. But then I'm sure you'll agree that it is my right to be wrong.

[natemoen]

Yeah, I agree too. They can do whatever they want and be idiots, they just shouldn't get pissed when people fight back.

[TomB]

Here in Uk we have ASBO's that can be issued by the Police and courts. They're Antisocial Behaviour Orders, which seems to be what these scum are doing, yep sure they're exercising their right to free speach and protesting for their beliefs, but if when doing that they're being antisocial, and you can't get any more antisocial than protesting at a funeral, then the police can remove them.

An ASBO states where they're allowed to visit/protest

Do you lads not have an equivalent? it would be worth petitioning for an ASBO against the "church"

[DGXSER]

Tom, for better or worse, we take a VERY liberal approach to freedom of speech. Basically, you can SAY anything you want to say, anywhere you want to say it, and legally speaking, there can be no reprocusions.

Now there are a few limitations, such as saying "bomb" in an airport, or stating your intention to due harm to someone. There are laws to protect employers from employees who say threatening or discomforting things in a work place environment. But in general, speech, even in written form, is protected above and beyond any moral, ethical, or political concerns.

Bothers me beyond belief alot of the time, as it is used to protect people from deserved reprocusions of showing absolutely no tact or manners. While this is an obviously outrageous instance, there are many more.

So the short answer is, no, we have nothing like it what so ever. This "Church", the KKK or other Hate Group can stand prety much anywhere, even at the funeral of anyone they choose and say anything they want to say about whomever including the deceast, and there is not thing one any law enforcement officer could do.

[TomB]

I agree, I think freedom of speech is very important, even the Muslim hate preachers in UK are protected so they can preach whatever they like, they have opinions too (however much I vehemently find them repugnant)

An ASBO can only be used if what they are doing would be antisocial which I think each of their individual protest would be. They should be allowed to express their opinion, but not at a funeral.


Personally, I'd ban religion, the big cause of a lot of the human slaughter on the planet, so this "church would be banned. But thats just me expressing an opinion

When we sign up to this forum (or any other forum) we agree to be decent, not nasty to each other, why can't we get the human race to sign up too.

All the best for the new year

[DGXSER]

when we sign up to this forum (or any other forum) we agree to be decent, not nasty to each other, why can't we get the human race to sign up too.

AAAA-men!!!!

[Cuda 69]

I do believe they did make a law on how many feet protestors have to be from a funeral.Greg is probably more up on this than me,but I do remember reading about a new law on this awhile back.I do believe it was put into law because of these pieces of crap(I refuse to call it a church,I was brought up,that a church was a place of worship and love and community.)protested at a little boys funeral who contacted Aids from a blood transfusion.Somewhere out west.

[BA80]

Westboro Baptist Church has pushed back against a new law that prohibits protesting at military funerals.

The "Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012" act, which was signed by President Obama Monday, prohibits protests two hours before or after a funeral service, and requires that they occur at least 300 feet from the service itself, the Huffington Post reported.

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[Cuda 69]

Thanks Greg,I knew you would chime in.