Kinda iffy...

[Nethely]

Check it out.. If you hardcore into religion then I suggest you not watch it, just some controversy going back and forth on the Tyra Banks show

http://break.com/index/crazy_phelps_family_on_tyra.html

[Buzzkill]

I dont even have to click it, I just saw the phelps family tag.

Those people arnt religious, theyre whack jobs. They just use religion to preach their psycho views.

[Buzzkill]

No matter how offensive they get, its still their right to say it.

But I will say this, if I was a cop in charge of security at one of their gatherings, Id protect them. But it might take me a little while to respond to someone kicking their asses.

[Severian]

No matter how offensive they get, its still their right to say it.

But I will say this, if I was a cop in charge of security at one of their gatherings, Id protect them. But it might take me a little while to respond to someone kicking their asses.

Actually, depending on what they say it may not be their right

Chaplinsky v. State of New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942) was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, in which the Court articulated the fighting words doctrine, a limitation of the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.

Also, although not necessarily an impediment of freedom of speech, in May of 2006 congress passed the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act (PL 109-228, 120 Stat. 387) in large part due to the Phelps protests.

And as an example of how pervasive the Phelps family is. On a visit to Canada Phelps had his protest signs seized by canadian customs agents. In retaliation Phelps traveled to the capitol where he burned and spit on the Canadian flag then threatened to defecate on it. The Canadian hate crime legislation was passed some time after this and is sometimes referred to as the "Fred Phelps Law".

[Nethely]

HAHA, they are dumb.

You have just brightened my knowledge though, you history buff..

[Buzzkill]

No matter how offensive they get, its still their right to say it.

But I will say this, if I was a cop in charge of security at one of their gatherings, Id protect them. But it might take me a little while to respond to someone kicking their asses.

Actually, depending on what they say it may not be their right

Chaplinsky v. State of New Hampshire, 315 U.S. 568 (1942) was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States, in which the Court articulated the fighting words doctrine, a limitation of the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.

Also, although not necessarily an impediment of freedom of speech, in May of 2006 congress passed the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act (PL 109-228, 120 Stat. 387) in large part due to the Phelps protests.

And as an example of how pervasive the Phelps family is. On a visit to Canada Phelps had his protest signs seized by canadian customs agents. In retaliation Phelps traveled to the capitol where he burned and spit on the Canadian flag then threatened to defecate on it. The Canadian hate crime legislation was passed some time after this and is sometimes referred to as the "Fred Phelps Law".

But while the phelps family is protesting one or two peoples funerals, what they say isnt considered fighting words. They arnt targeting one person, but protesting generalities. Some of the signs Ive seen are 'God hates fags" or 'God bless dead soldiers". If they were insulting the person or family specificly, I think it would tehn fall under the precident of the Chaplinsky case.

I understand what your saying. God knows these people need a good ol fashioned ass kicking. But Id rather have one or two isolated incidents like these nutjobs then have hate speech laws like in canada. I am against any law that restricts freedoms.