Judge temporarily stops funeral protest law

[proud2BlibKansan]

A Kansas City federal judge today barred the city of Gladstone from enforcing an ordinance that prohibits protests at soldiers’ funerals.

Shirley L. Phelps-Roper of Topeka’s Westboro Baptist Church asked for the order pending a decision on whether the city’s ordinance is constitutional. The same judge also is considering whether a similar Missouri law is constitutional.

Westboro church members have drawn harsh criticism across the country for picketing at funerals of servicemen and servicewomen. They believe that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality, abortion and divorce and have complained that laws banning funeral pickets violate their freedom of speech.

The cities of St. Joseph and Smithville also faced similar suits from Phelps-Roper. Chief U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan dismissed the suit against Smithville last month when the city repealed its funeral picketing ordinance.

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1142418.html

[Eric J in MN]

1. Good. These laws can be used to arrest ordinary protestors...

...who had no idea they were near a funeral.

There are churches all over.

Some places have lots of graveyards, too (such as Queens, NY.)

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. We protest against the war here twice a week

And both locations are very close to churches.

I can't stand what the Phelps family does but I have to stand up for their free speech rights.

[Bucky]

3. Freedom of speech includes assholes too

Sad, aggrivating, but necessary.

[bluestateguy]

4. Despicable

These Westboro Nazis do nothing but abuse freedom of speech.

If they had their druthers there would be no freedom of speech for anybody but them.

And that's my test: I feel no obligation to stand up for someone's free speech if they won't also respect other people's.

[Tesha]

5. As usual, you're on the wrong side of the issue.

It's the despicable free speech that requires the defense.

Tesha

[Berry Cool]

6. Sad, but true.

The only way to counter free speech you don't like is with more free speech that promotes YOUR ideas.

The people who served as "angels" at the Buffalo funeral of a plane-crash victim...they had the right idea. Overwhelm evil and hate...drown it out with love.