Westboro to picket Sandy Hook funerals.

[Kaylyn]

As much as they claim to be "peaceful protestors", I really feel it's only a matter of time before they go all Red State on us.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

I found this article by a woman minister calmly and passionately denouncing the idea that the shooting was "God's retribution" and I appreciate her words. I am not Christian, but I enjoy and appreciate ministers/pastors/rabbis/any person who are considered authorities of their chosen faith being open, understanding, and marrying both their faith with their experiences.

I love listening to them, because I often find that their words are more universal than perhaps even they realize.

Here is the article: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/femmeva...rs-newtown-ct/

[HYHYBT]

The ironic thing is that they cite the First Amendment as their justification for their obnoxious displays (they even picketed the San Diego Comic Con one year!), but it's through an EXCEPTION to the First Amendment that will get them slapped down and kicked out of court - Incitement to Violence. By mocking and taunting people that are directly in their face, they're erasing their own protections. They've had close calls with that so far, but they need to tread VERY carefully to avoid that in this case.

I thought incitement to violence only counted when it was a third party you were stirring them up against. You know, like stirring up a lynch mob.

[Nekojin]

Not really. Westboro has been on the receiving end of an Incitement to Violence charge at least once before (among other charges), but that particular case has been dropped.

Incitement just has to be encouraging or directing violent behavior. It is a perfectly valid use of the law to apply it when people are trying to be attacked because they want a reason to sue others. I have no doubt that if any of the ComicCon attendees had taken a swing at the WBC loons, they'd have sued the convention. Deep pockets, and all that.

[Mr Hero]

A
A WBC guy was asked directly whether this or that humanitarian (Mother Theresa, etc.) was going to heaven or hell, and the answer was "hell" to every one. Unless you tell people the bad news, you're not telling them the good news that follows.

This makes me glad that it won't be Fred Phelps that does my Final Judgment.

[Jester]

Would it be God's work if someone showed up with a gun and mowed down the Westboro protesters?

My initial gut instinct was to say that I would have no problem with that. And on a base level, I wouldn't.

The PROBLEM, however, is that if anything like that happened, the WBC would use it as a martyring cause to recruit even more narrow-minded hatemongers to their cause. I can totally see them turning the murder of one or more of their members into a successful recruitment drive. Yeah, they really are that sick.

Which is probably why I would rather see them just drive off a cliff. After all, that would be "God's will."

It seems as if they would not be satisfied until we elect a government that would make homosexuality a capital offense, and anything less than supporting that makes one condemned.

I think that may actually be one of their goals, to make homosexuality a federal crime punishable by death.

Of course, if that happened, what WOULD they do with all their free time?

Not really. Westboro has been on the receiving end of an Incitement to Violence charge at least once before (among other charges), but that particular case has been dropped.

Oddly enough, *I* was almost charged with that myself, back in college, when arguing with some "God Squadders," as we called them; basically a couple of idiots that were on campus preaching fire and brimstone and hell and damnation. And as hateful and disgusting as those guys were, they seemed reasonable and friendly compared to WBC, and I dare say that they would look unfavorably upon the WBC's actions, though of course I can't speak for them.

[Duelist925]

My initial gut instinct was to say that I would have no problem with that. And on a base level, I wouldn't.

The PROBLEM, however, is that if anything like that happened, the WBC would use it as a martyring cause to recruit even more narrow-minded hatemongers to their cause. I can totally see them turning the murder of one or more of their members into a successful recruitment drive. Yeah, they really are that sick.

Which is probably why I would rather see them just drive off a cliff. After all, that would be "God's will."

Oh bloody hell. The wailing and gnashing of teeth and calls for more protests and yada yada would be audible all the way in Canada. -_-

Though I AM deviant enough to hope someone would ask them "Well if you're so beloved by this hateful god you worship, why'd he let one of you get shot?"

I think that may actually be one of their goals, to make homosexuality a federal crime punishable by death.

Of course, if that happened, what WOULD they do with all their free time?

Go after the next biggest sin? Uh...unwed mothers, maybe, or abortion clinics. Or maybe Disneyland, false idols and all that. "God Hates Mice!"

[wolfie]

One thing biker-types love to tell people is "loud pipes save lives". The only case where I can see this as being true is with the Patriot Guard counter-protesting the WBC at soldiers' funerals. After all, if the bigots weren't being drowned out by the Harleys, someone might hear them, take exception to what they're doing, and let them explain themselves to St. Peter.

[cindybubbles]

I signed this petition, even though I'm Canadian, not American.

I also signed this one, asking President Obama to ban protests within 300 feet of a funeral, both during and two hours before and after the event.

[Panacea]

A WBC guy was asked directly whether this or that humanitarian (Mother Theresa, etc.) was going to heaven or hell, and the answer was "hell" to every one. Unless you tell people the bad news, you're not telling them the good news that follows.

Well, he's an arrogant asshat, then, presuming how God is going to judge.

I think that may actually be one of their goals, to make homosexuality a federal crime punishable by death.

Of course, if that happened, what WOULD they do with all their free time?.

Find another cause that isn't being pushed by someone else. Abortion is already being done; they wouldn't stand out and there's enough precedent that their asshattery would probably be stopped by the courts.

[Rageaholic]

At this point, I suspect they're just trolling for the evulz