Congress Moves To Limit Phelps Clan

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/05/051006phelps.htm

The House of Representatives has voted to restrict demonstrations at military funerals, a measure aimed at a Kansas church group that has carried its anti-gay message to the last rites for those killed in Iraq.

“We will not allow the repugnant acts of a few to define who we are as Americans,” said Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, R-Ind., before the 408-3 vote on the “Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act.” Buyer spoke at a news conference joined by motorcyclists who attend military funerals to shield families from the anti-gay protesters.

Protesters, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kan., claim that U.S. military deaths in Iraq are a sign of divine punishment for America's tolerance of gays.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., chief sponsor of the bill, said he took up the issue after attending a military funeral in his home state where mourners where greeted by “chants and taunting and some of the most vile things I have ever heard.”


anyone else think that the Phelps are going to make a bundle off this

See! It's true! The liberal big government spenders really are against the Christian community! :sarcasm:

And on what grounds?

Republican Ron Paul, the "libertarian".
Democrats Barney Frank and David Wu.

That is significant, methinks.

Freedom of speech, of course.

Even the repugnant should be free to speak. In fact, I encourage it.

It helps to know who the gay-bashers are. And who the crazies are.

It's a complicated issue, IMHO. I am still surprised that the vote was so lopsided.

speak freely.

:shrug:

One state senator voted against the proposal -- Sen. Becky Lourey, whose son was killed in Iraq.

It seems to me there are plenty other existing laws to get them on -- there didn't need to be another one.

ETA: Sorry, I read too fast; I didn't realize this was a U.S. House action. Hm.

These fakers could have cared less when Phelps was disrupting the funerals of gay people. Now, because they can wrap themselves in the flag, they feign outrage. They can go to hell along with that bigot.

I wonder, why stop at military funerals? Why not make it illegal to do this at all funerals? Why is it wrong to protest the funeral of a dead soldier, but not wrong to protest the funeral of a gay teen that committed suicide?

anti-gay shit...what did they expect?

now because these Phelps family Satan-lovers are bothering straight people.

We never heard a goddam peep from lawmakers being all outraged about them protesting outside the funerals of gay people.

Now congress is absolutely playing into the hands of these psychopaths.

You just know they LOVE all of the attention they're receiving about this issue.

Publicity is what fuels their movement. (They post controversial newspaper articles about themselves on their fucked up website).

So they certainly have to be beside themselves with joy that their little group from B.F. Kansas is influential enough to draw the attention of lawmakers in Washington.

As a free speech advocate, I agree with those who argue let them keep protesting their disgusting message. (This isn't China after all).

As tragic as it is seeing them picket outside the funerals of the soldiers who are coming home in body bags from Iraq, maybe at some point straight people will start getting it.



PHOTOGRAPH OF LIVING DAY SATAN WORSHIPER:

That passing this law now amounts to bigotry. That speech is protected. That it's good to know who the crazies are.

I just want to add that the counter-protest group, those motorcycle guys, have been going to both gay and military funerals to drown out the noise of the hate.

To the members of that movement, thank you. These Phelps supporters will not let a funeral be a peaceful time of reflection and hope--thanks to you for at least not letting them turn it into a time of anger and hate.

oh well, one can dream.

I see I'm not the only one, either.

When these a$$wipes were targeting gay funerals nobody gave a crap. Now that they've stepped up to military funerals people have decided they want to do something about it.

Of course, that's what the Phelps clan wanted all along--a law against their demonstrations so they could file a countersuit claiming their 1st Amendment rights are being violated. Tons more publicity and lots of opportunity to whine about "Christian Persecution".

There shouldn't be any law against the protests. Sooner or later the Phelps clan will get their real justice when they protest at the wrong funeral.