Judge strikes down Missouri funeral protest law

[usregimechange]

Missouri’s laws restricting protests near funerals are unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Monday.

The ruling from Chief U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan found that two 2006 laws that sought to regulate such protests violated First Amendment free-speech rights.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of Westboro Baptist Church founder Fred Phelps, filed the federal lawsuit. Church members often have picketed service members’ funerals, alleging that God is punishing America for tolerating homosexuality, abortion, divorce and other issues.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/08/16/2154007/judge-strikes-down-missouri-funeral.html#ixzz0ws3AGSeg

[leftofcool]

1. As nasty as the Phelps crowd is, the judge is correct

Refusing groups, even the ones we don't like, the right to protest is a slippery slope. There are other ways to fix these nasty people. Everytime there is a soldier's funeral in progress and Phelps is attending, just put about 30-40 of those big old Rolling Thunder Vietnam Harley riding vets around the perimeter...........no guns, no knives, just the Harleys and the boys. Abusive language toward the Phelps crows is optional.

[slampoet]

3. +1000 This is simple free speech. Just like allowing a Mosque

[The Northerner]

2. Free speech is free speech even if it's offensive or unpopular speech

[MattBaggins]

4. The Phelps church may be disgusting group but this ruling is correct.