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After Anti-Gay Insults, It May Be Felony To Protest Funerals
The Indy Channel ^ | October 25, 2005 | AP

Posted on 10/25/2005 10:47:01 AM PDT by Abathar

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana state senator wants to make disorderly conduct a felony if it occurs at military funerals, similar to a proposal being considered in Oklahoma.

Indiana state Sen. Brent Steele said he would propose legislation in response to an anti-gay group's protest at the Aug. 28 funeral for Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Doyle, who died in Iraq.

Members of the Topeka, Kan.,-based Westboro Baptist Church dragged U.S. flags on the ground and shouted insults at Doyle's wife and other survivors outside a mortuary in Martinsville, Ind.

Church Rev. Fred Phelps said American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays and accepts homosexuality. The church, which is not affiliated with a larger Denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.

The church members carried signs and shouted things such as "God hates fags" and "God hates you."

The group has also shown up at funerals in Oklahoma and state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft said he would offer a bill to prohibit any form of protest within 500 feet of any funeral at a home, mortuary, cemetery, church or other place of worship.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; US: Indiana
KEYWORDS: fredphelps; westborobabtists
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Although I am against what those morons are doing, I don't know if passing this law is the right way to stop it. I think instead of making it a felony to do this, there should be a 500 ft. radius of "Felony Free" zone, so that anyone who wants to counter protest them with a Louisville Slugger can without fear of prosecution or lawsuit.
1 posted on 10/25/2005 10:47:01 AM PDT by Abathar
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To: Abathar

Anybody who thinks they are deserving of God's love but claim to know who isn't should seriously reevaluate their position. They usually can't be dealt with rationally, however.


2 posted on 10/25/2005 10:50:00 AM PDT by somemoreequalthanothers (All for the betterment of "the state", comrade)
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To: somemoreequalthanothers
I know, fear of physical pain is about the only deterrent some of these people have left in life. Rational thought doesn't apply to many of them any more.
3 posted on 10/25/2005 10:53:09 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly catching hell for posting without reading since 2004)
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To: Abathar
They should jail the whole crazy Phelps gang. What an embarrassment! A law like this would also be an inconvenience to the "peace" creeps.
4 posted on 10/25/2005 10:53:54 AM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: ozzymandus
A law like this would also be an inconvenience to the "peace" creeps.

Not to mention how many Freepers would get busted trying to get in line to urinate at Clinton's funeral.

5 posted on 10/25/2005 10:58:17 AM PDT by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Abathar
The church members carried signs and shouted things such as "God hates fags" and "God hates you."

This "church" apparently has not heard that God loves the sinner but hates the sin.

6 posted on 10/25/2005 10:59:29 AM PDT by JimRed ("Hey, hey, Teddy K., how many girls did you drown today?")
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To: ozzymandus
They should jail the whole crazy Phelps gang. What an embarrassment! A law like this would also be an inconvenience to the "peace" creeps.

The fact that the Phelps gang still exists and hasn't been law-suited into oblivion is iron-clad proof to me that they are nothing but Democrat straw-men. They're about as real as the Republicans on The West Wing.
7 posted on 10/25/2005 11:00:31 AM PDT by Antoninus (The greatest gifts parents can give their children are siblings.)
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To: somemoreequalthanothers

Yea, anyone shouting that God hates gays simply knows nothing of God. While God hate sin, he still loves sinners.

This minister also isn't the head of a church, he's head of a cult made up of mostly his own family.

These people don't deserve to be called a church. They aren't doing God's work.

On the other hand, the government has no business telling people they cannot protest within 500 feet of a church. That simply prevents anyone from speaking their mind on religious issues in a religious setting. What happens when the members of a church decide to hold a rally on an issue and want to do it on thier own property?

Arrest these idiots for disturbing the peace. Let the whole world know about their disgusting actions, and let society shun them.


8 posted on 10/25/2005 11:03:34 AM PDT by untrained skeptic
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To: ozzymandus
A law like this would also be an inconvenience to the "peace" creeps.

Yes, the bill's sponsor should add the words "military hospital."

9 posted on 10/25/2005 11:03:45 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (America will not run, and we will not forget our responsibilities. – George W. Bush)
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To: Abathar
One of the Phelps people was assaulted and beaten so badly that he spent weeks in the hospital. Since then that particular individual has apparently not shown up for any further protests.

Phelps and several members of his family are attorneys and are very litigious, but since no Phelpser could positively identify any of the attackers, no one was arrested or charged with the assault.

So it seems that some people have found an effective way to get through to at least one Phelpser.

10 posted on 10/25/2005 11:11:04 AM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave troops and their Commander-in-Chief)
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To: untrained skeptic
the government has no business telling people they cannot protest within 500 feet of a church

Hmmm. that would stop stuff like this:

11 posted on 10/25/2005 11:11:30 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Abathar

I don't believe they are saying you can't protests at a church....only at military funerals and I am all for it.

The protest warriors try to find out where they are going to be and put up a protective shield of people but this can't always be done.


12 posted on 10/25/2005 11:13:07 AM PDT by tx_militarymom
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To: Abathar
Members of the Topeka, Kan.,-based Westboro Baptist Church dragged U.S. flags on the ground and shouted insults at Doyle's wife and other survivors outside a mortuary in Martinsville, Ind.

That was very un-Christian of them to do..and I would have been just as un-Christian, after I bloodied and beat as many of them as I could before being hauled off to jail.

13 posted on 10/25/2005 11:19:03 AM PDT by Iron Matron
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To: untrained skeptic

"While God hate sin, he still loves sinners."



click my ID for my, shared with better, opinion


14 posted on 10/25/2005 11:28:18 AM PDT by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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To: Abathar

Picking on the immediate relatives of a dead soldier (who has nothing to do with homosexuality) to protest homosexuality defies logic. Perhaps a beating of the "Reverend" with a Louisville Slugger is the only sensible option.


15 posted on 10/25/2005 11:39:28 AM PDT by theDentist (The Dems have put all their eggs in one basket-case: Howard "Belltower" Dean.)
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To: Abathar

no need for new legislation, just dig a couple of extra holes as needed...


16 posted on 10/25/2005 12:05:51 PM PDT by InsureAmerica (Evil? I have many words for it. We are as dust, to them. - v v putin)
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To: untrained skeptic

I agree with skeptic, this cult knows nothing of God. I'm not a Bible thumper but if you want to get down right scriptural, 1 John 4:8 says ...he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love...AND yes they do have every right to protest and no one should try to curtail that right in any way unless they disturb the peace. I'm almost glad that they are protesting and exposing themselves as real idiots; but they should change their signs to the truth "I hate homosexuals", not God.


17 posted on 10/25/2005 1:33:44 PM PDT by xavnhoutx
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To: Abathar
Panel Endorses Protest Restrictions At Funerals
18 posted on 01/10/2006 10:52:35 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (None genuine without my signature)
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To: TC Rider
Not to mention how many Freepers would get busted trying to get in line to urinate at Clinton's funeral.

No kidding...advance ticket sales have been described as "brisk".

19 posted on 01/10/2006 10:54:37 AM PST by who knows what evil? (New England...the Sodom and Gomorrah of the 21st Century, and they're proud of it!)
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To: Abathar

fred phelps is a mentally deranged publicity hound, who was an al gore supporter in the late 80's and early 90's.


20 posted on 01/10/2006 10:55:10 AM PST by Dane ( anyone who believes hillary would do something to stop illegal immigration is believing gibberish)
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