Westboro Group Arrested in Texas

[Suprtek]

What I would like to see happen to these lowlifes is probably best not discussed in an open forum. When they came to Indy not too long ago, I considered showing up but I decided against it. I'm usually a pretty rational person but I honestly didn't trust myself to behave properly in the presence of such idiocy and downright evil.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

I If throwing people in jail for being ***holes is to be accepted, we'd all be awaiting the death penalty.

Speak for yourself!

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Speak for yourself!

Admitting you have a problem is the first step towards recovery....

Just sayin'

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Gawd, "intolerance". No, they have every right to express their opinions, of whatever little value they are, but they don't have a right to force me, or anyone else, to hear them. I do object if someone wants to set himself up as gatekeeper (MSM?) but I should be able to say "shut up" and have it happen. In other words, if I tell someone to stop saying certain things to me, this should say to the speaker that there's no value in continuing to say these things, so maybe, you know, stop, like I said. Too many of these schmucks insist on nattering endlessly, and demand respect, or at least acceptance, of their stupidity. How is society improved? You notice how things used to be so much more pleasant, back when people showed a modicum of civility?

 

[Jack Burton]

Gawd, "intolerance". No, they have every right to express their opinions, of whatever little value they are, but they don't have a right to force me, or anyone else, to hear them. I do object if someone wants to set himself up as gatekeeper (MSM?) but I should be able to say "shut up" and have it happen. In other words, if I tell someone to stop saying certain things to me, this should say to the speaker that there's no value in continuing to say these things, so maybe, you know, stop, like I said. Too many of these schmucks insist on nattering endlessly, and demand respect, or at least acceptance, of their stupidity. How is society improved? You notice how things used to be so much more pleasant, back when people showed a modicum of civility?

If they are occupying the same public space that you are, then yes, you just might be "forced" to listen to them. You have options to not listen, and none of those options including forcing them into silence. It works the same exact way as those who say "you gun owners want to "force me" into being in the same store or restaurant as you are when you carry your gun."

The SCOTUS has declared they have the full right to protest at funerals. That is the way it should be. There can be reasonable distance and time restrictions but nothing that would prevent them from exercising their freedom of speech in a fashion that allows their message to be communicated.

The same exact way we get to march in downtown Indy in support of 2nd Amendment issues that we like. I am sure there are hundreds of thousands of people in Indiana who would love nothing more than to see all the gun owners who are marching with their LTC to all be put in jail... but one man's freedom is also another man's same freedom.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I propose a compromise. If they want to invade one of the most private moments of a grieving family, let them. Also let the family deal with them as they see fit--as in WBC should invest in extremely good health/injury insurance.

At a more serious level, I could see a good argument for this behavior constituting stalking. There is a big difference between a political statement and making life miserable for the family of some PFC whose final experience was finding an IED accidentally.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

If I'm in a true "public space", then that's true, however, there are precedents enough for spaces that are "public" in the sense you can go there, but not in the sense that a group can randomly assemble, peaceable as they may be, for example venues that require an assembly permit for various reasons. In such a place, a group is certainly not within its right to assail me with any opinion, objectionable or not. My whole thing is, if these people can't be polite on their own, we must codify politeness and punish violators, but why should this be necessary? What we have is a bunch of children pushing their limits.

 

[Leo]

In Wisconsin, the westboro morons stirred up a riot after being warned repeatedly by peace officers to discontinue their activities. When the police could not hold back the crowd from inflicted some minor pain and vandalism (rocks thrown, etc.) on their van, they sued the town (and won) for not protecting them. Hopefully these parasites suffer the same pain and loss they use to steal from peace and cash taxpaying citizens.

Depending on the crowd, arresting them may actually save their lives.

 

[Degtyaryov]

Good for Texas!