Take THAT, Fred Phelps!!!

[Deb in IA]

The Iowa House of Representatives voted 99-0 to approve a ban on protests within 300 feet from all funerals and memorials services for 1 hour before and 2 hours after a service.

A similar measure had already passed the Iowa Senate 50-0.

The legislation orginally only specified military funerals, but was later expanded to all funerals.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, Fred Phelps' daughter and an attorney, plans to challenge this in court, and claims it to be unconstitutional.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

The Iowa House of Representatives voted 99-0 to approve a ban on protests within 300 feet from all funerals and memorials services for 1 hour before and 2 hours after a service.

A similar measure had already passed the Iowa Senate 50-0.

The legislation orginally only specified military funerals, but was later expanded to all funerals.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, Fred Phelps' daughter and an attorney, plans to challenge this in court, and claims it to be unconstitutional.

Isn't it just sad that we actually have to have laws to keep people from protesting at funerals? At FUNERALS, for crying out loud! Whatever happened to compassion and respect. I suppose since there is an obvious demonstrated need for the law, it is good that it passed.

 

[kimmikayb]

Go Iowa

 

[yeartolate]

Westboro Church sucks. Nuff said. And Phelps will eventually be judged by the God he thinks he serves.

 

[Tina]

He is so disgusting. I wish we could just ban him from Planet Earth!!

 

[debster812]

Shirley Phelps-Roper, Fred Phelps' daughter and an attorney, plans to challenge this in court, and claims it to be unconstitutional.

I don't claim to be a Constitutional Scholar in any way shape or form, but I think we could go through it with a fine tooth comb, and not find ANYTHING that indicates we have the 'Constitutional Right' to protest at a FUNERAL for goodness' sakes.

GO Iowa Indeed!! ​

 

[alabamaalan]

It is ridiculous to have to pass a law for one individual (even to prevent them from doing something.)

This should just be common sense/common courtesy.

However, if I were burying a member of my family and someone came to interrupt it for a protest (Particularly when it wasn't even against anyone there), they might as well bring a shovel and start digging a hole for themselves too.

 

[luvthatduke]

I've been following this tragedy since early on
and was thrilled to hear about the bill and it's passage.

 

[wvrevy]

Woohoo! Restrictions on free speech! Yipee !



Look, I think Phelps is a scumbag (and that's the nicest word I could think of that wouldn't set off the DIS dirty word filters ) extreme right wing loon...but I'm not sure that I like the government telling anyone when it is "proper" to protest and when it isn't. The purpose of the first amendment is to protect unpopular speech. Nobody is being prevented from voicing the majority opinion.

I'll give 20-1 odds right now that this law will be struck down by the courts, if challenged.

(And please let it be known that I am not and would never defend what Phelps and his band of happy morons are actually saying. I find them and their message completely repugnant. I'm just not sure that the government should be able to step in and stop them from saying it.)

 

[kimmikayb]

Woohoo! Restrictions on free speech! Yipee !



Look, I think Phelps is a scumbag (and that's the nicest word I could think of that wouldn't set off the DIS dirty word filters ) extreme right wing loon...but I'm not sure that I like the government telling anyone when it is "proper" to protest and when it isn't. The purpose of the first amendment is to protect unpopular speech. Nobody is being prevented from voicing the majority opinion.

I'll give 20-1 odds right now that this law will be struck down by the courts, if challenged.

(And please let it be known that I am not and would never defend what Phelps and his band of happy morons are actually saying. I find them and their message completely repugnant. I'm just not sure that the government should be able to step in and stop them from saying it.)

They aren't preventing anyone from protesting....just keep it 300 feet from the dead guy. I think that is fair.

 

[Taylor]

I wonder if the bill will outlaw a cheering section to attend the funeral of Fred Phelps?

 

[wvrevy]

They aren't preventing anyone from protesting....just keep it 300 feet from the dead guy. I think that is fair.

I dunno....Like I said, I'm just not comfortable with the government telling people where it is acceptable to have free speech, and where it isn't. I don't think you can legislate good manners, which is what this is basically doing.

 

[eclectics]

They aren't preventing anyone from protesting....just keep it 300 feet from the dead guy. I think that is fair.

Isn't there a distance limit on the abortion clinic protesters also or does that vary by state? Has any group attempted to strike that distance law down? Just wondering.

 

[tw1nsmom]

They aren't preventing anyone from protesting....just keep it 300 feet from the dead guy. I think that is fair.

I agree with this. They aren't limiting their freedom of speech, they are just relocating them. Frankly, I think 300 feet is still too close. There's also laws against inciting a riot. I think it could be reasonably argued that screaming highly objectionable messages within close proximity of emotionally distraught people could potentially cause a violent encounter.

 

[rigs32]

You have the right to free speech and I have the right not to listen. Forcing protesters to move 300 feet away from mourners is not, IMO, an infringement on that right.

We have rules that candidates for office cannot campaign within a certain distance from the polls. Do you think that's an infringement of their freedom of speech?

 

[Rella Bella]

"Phelps and his band of happy morons" How very well said!!

The nerve & stupidity of this man is infuriating!! I just can't understand how he can get "his" people to do the things they do. These protests are SO unbelievably disrespectful! Not of the country but for the families... who have done nothing and are attacked at one of the lowest times of their lives.
It is so sad.

 

[dwbakerjr]

..??

Question of idle curiosity..

Weren't there some (large, hairy, fiesty) motorcyclists (?? Hells Angel types ??) protesting the presence of Phelps Phanatics at some of these services..??

Perhaps my recollection is innaccurate... (but that might be amusing to observe)...

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I really despise Fred Phelps. I didn't know he had spawned and unleashed his offspring on the unsuspecting public. Hmm.

I think the law is fair. The family of the deceased has a right to a funeral without being subjected to protesters up in their faces.

 

[olena]

The Iowa House of Representatives voted 99-0 to approve a ban on protests within 300 feet from all funerals and memorials services for 1 hour before and 2 hours after a service.

A similar measure had already passed the Iowa Senate 50-0.

The legislation orginally only specified military funerals, but was later expanded to all funerals.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, Fred Phelps' daughter and an attorney, plans to challenge this in court, and claims it to be unconstitutional.

I hope it stands up in court. It's amazing the money this group will and has spent to challenge these laws and to travel to all these funerals. That time, money and effort could be spent helping people and not hurting mourners.

 

[ford family]

I dunno....Like I said, I'm just not comfortable with the government telling people where it is acceptable to have free speech, and where it isn't. I don't think you can legislate good manners, which is what this is basically doing.

But is that what is happening?
Or is it really the people telling the government what is offensive to them and then the good government acting to protect the people?
That is not anti-free speech, it is pro-democracy. Government Of The People, By The People, For The People and especially the For.

ford family