Lawmakers find funeral protests hard to stop

[proud2BlibKansan]

TOPEKA — Lawmakers remain stumped on how to stop Westboro Baptist Church protesters from picketing funerals without treading on the First Amendment. But Sen. John Vratil, a Leawood Republican, said today that he thinks he may have found a way.

Lawmakers, he said, can restrict protesting on private property near funerals and mandate that the public sidewalks, streets and parks around them be used only for their intended use.

That means anyone could stop a protest by the Rev. Fred Phelps simply walking down the sidewalk. Phelps and his followers argue that God hates America because it harbors homosexuals and that soldiers’ deaths in Iraq have been divine retribution.

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In a separate proposal, Sen. Karin Brownlee, an Olathe Republican, said she would like to pass a resolution declaring that the protests Westboro Baptist Church brings to soldiers’ funerals around the nation don’t represent Kansas.


more . . .

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13890102.htm

[MadMaddie]

1. Well, some funeral attendee...will stop them...

It's gonna happen sooner or later!!

[Akoto]

5. Indeed.

Eventually, they're going to protest the wrong event and that'll be the last of Mr. Phelps.

I'm certainly not one to advocate that sort of thing, but if it had to happen to someone, I couldn't think of a more deserving bottom-feeder.

[MadMaddie]

9. Agreed....

:hi:

[Occulus]

2. How about passing a law

allowing all MOURNERS to be armed, REGARDLESS of their license to carry?

[evlbstrd]

3. Are you gonna walk through that group?

I'll go.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. All we have to do is walk down the sidewalk

Hell I can do THAT. So can you. So it sounds like a plan, eh?

[evlbstrd]

14. The more the merrier.

There are an awful lot of Phelps'.

[roseBudd]

4. Oh but thewy do represent the mindset of Kansas

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Beg your pardon?

No way. Not even close.

[roseBudd]

11. they represent the GOP voters in Kansas, of which there are a lot

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Phelps is a registered Dem

The repugs hate them as much or more than the Dems.

[evlbstrd]

17. Do you live in Kansas?

I disagree with you. Sure there are plenty of Republicans. Just like anywhere else. But if you read your history, Kansas has traditionally been a progressive state.
Your turn, P2B.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. It's a lot more progressive than MO

All this negative attention is really unfair.

[evlbstrd]

20. I agree.

And it usually comes from people who've never been to Kansas.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Scared of the Sunflower State

LOL

[evlbstrd]

22. What they don't realize is ...

... most of it doesn't even have people in it! And not all that many sunflowers, either.

[Canuckistanian]

6. They seem to have no problem in shopping malls

Or government buildings or or abortion clinics or military bases.

If they put their minds to it, they could come up with 1001 reasons.

[Inland]

10. Gee, I guess world will have to watch RW fundies insult dead military.

In a real sense, the legislation protects the reputation of right wingers as much as it protects the families of the dead. Part of me wants it to go on. Maybe make them protest in the square of the nearest town.....

[Webster Green]

13. Put 'em in pens, nine blocks away. That's what they do to us.

Free fucking speech zones.

[badgerpup]

15. have you noticed...

...that emotions tend to run rather high during times of grief and stress?
People find themselves saying and doing things that they wouldn't dream of normally...

I'm just sayin'...:shrug:

[StClone]

16. Where are the counter shout downs

All these duds need is to be outnumbered by counter protesters with amps and blow horns following their every stupid move.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Best idea yet was the bikers

They revved their engines every time Phelps started shouting.

[StClone]

24. LOL

Now that's creative.

[zbdent]

23. Maybe Vratil can deputize the American Legion

to arrest Phelps and flock . . .

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests

Tuesday, February 21, 2006; Posted: 7:55 a.m. EST (12:55 GMT)

FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) -- Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier's funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters.

They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more than 5,000 strong, forming to counter anti-gay protests held by the Rev. Fred Phelps at military funerals.

Phelps believes American deaths in Iraq are divine punishment for a country that he says harbors homosexuals. His protesters carry signs thanking God for so-called IEDs -- explosives that are a major killer of soldiers in Iraq.

The bikers shield the families of dead soldiers from the protesters, and overshadow the jeers with patriotic chants and a sea of red, white and blue flags.

"The most important thing we can do is let families know that the nation cares," said Don Woodrick, the group's Kentucky captain. "When a total stranger gets on a motorcycle in the middle of winter and drives 300 miles to hold a flag, that makes a powerful statement."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/02/21/funeral.motorcyclists.ap/index.html