Westboro Baptist Church is thwarted!

[Timedraven 117]

Im not sure I understand how blocking someones car is breaking the freedom of speech... please fill me in here

no it is the overall scheme of what they did is what everyone is saying but not really only the goverment can break the first amendment

 

[Eijarel]

I bet it was planned by the buddies of the fallen soldier,(almost like a military op)
i do not approve of any sort of violence or direct violation for the rights of people, but i must certainly approve of "clever" ways to stop the Wbc.

i wonder if somewhere, there is like secret "Spec ops" team dedicated exclusively to frustrate the wbc attempts of picketing military funerals..at least there should be

 

[Timedraven 117]

"Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out."

Read as: We know they're Westboros here to picket the funeral and are choosing not to respond.

This was handled flawlessly, and must be used as an example on how to handle them in the future. Not how I would handle it, if it were up to me, but it's not, and this is definitely the next best thing.

or they were late already anyways or they just werent going to respond untill after the funeral

 

[Quazimofo]

I'm torn.

On one hand, beating someone isn't exactly the best way to deal with this.

On the other hand, I can think of no other group of people who are more deserving of a good beating.

yeah, and despite all of this, there still should be some minor penalty at least because they DID kind of violate the first amendment. while it is true that the Westboro people deserve it more than anyone else i can think of in our country at the moment, if it becomes okay to violate amendments when we disagree, this could have some serious consequences in the future.

i tip my hat to them. and if they take the retaliation they deserve for violating the constitution with their heads held high and no complaint, they should get a freaking medal for being exemplary citizens of the united states of america.

 

[Sansha]

"Police were called but their wrecker service was running behind and it was going to be a few hours before they could tow the trucks so the Kansas plated cars could get out."

Read as: We know they're Westboros here to picket the funeral and are choosing not to respond.

This was handled flawlessly, and must be used as an example on how to handle them in the future. Not how I would handle it, if it were up to me, but it's not, and this is definitely the next best thing.

or they were late already anyways or they just werent going to respond untill after the funeral

Either way, good on them.

 

[Saltyk]

I google'd this, and found someone who talked about how the people of Rankin county still broke the first amendment. True, I'm glad it happened, but if they're allowed to get away with it then that means anyone could.

Westboro will only be beaten when no one cares anymore.

I'm divided on this. I hate the Westboro Baptist Fraud Church. But if this county can do it to them (considering that the Supreme Court has guaranteed the WBC's RIGHT to do as they do) what's to stop them from doing this to you and me?

Still, WBC got what they deserved.

Its only against the first amendment if it is sanctioned by a governmental body. The first amendment does not prevent an individual from determining what can and cannot be said in their presence. Now the consequences of their actions based upon said determination are a different story. Basically if I don't like what you say I am free to beat the hell out of you. I will then be punished for said beating but not for preventing your freedom of speech.

Reading between the lines it seems pretty clear that everyone was together in this effort, including the police department, but unless it was officially planned by a governmental body there isn't a lot that those scumbags can do.

Unfortunately, I'd say that this WAS planned and sanctioned by a government body. If I read that right, the vehicles used to block the WBC ones belonged to the county. And the police taking the few that made it to the funeral away just long enough to allow it to go on uninterrupted is further evidence that the county was in on it. You do realize that the police department is a part of the government, right? Even just the police taking them away for questioning can easily be argued as denying them their First Amendment rights. And the WBC knows this. They are horrible evil people, but they aren't stupid. I expect we'll hear more about this in the future.

Still, I think the WBC gets what they deserve. I just don't like the precedent this sets. Should this go to court, the WBC should win. This would be one time I'd actually root for them.

 

[zelda2fanboy]

This quote from the story stood out "Sometimes, when all else has fails, you need the good old boys to get things done." So in other words, the WBC was thwarted by the crooked Southern police force treating them like they were blacks in the 1960s. Um, yay? I guess I'm thankful it happened to irritating jerks who deserve it for once, but still. Feels all icky. Don't want to go to the South any time soon.

 

[Sandytimeman]

I agree. This needed to happen, to be honest I kind of wish that someone would snap and take a spray of machine gun fire across their protest line.

 

[Jodah]

I google'd this, and found someone who talked about how the people of Rankin county still broke the first amendment. True, I'm glad it happened, but if they're allowed to get away with it then that means anyone could.

Westboro will only be beaten when no one cares anymore.

I'm divided on this. I hate the Westboro Baptist Fraud Church. But if this county can do it to them (considering that the Supreme Court has guaranteed the WBC's RIGHT to do as they do) what's to stop them from doing this to you and me?

Still, WBC got what they deserved.

Its only against the first amendment if it is sanctioned by a governmental body. The first amendment does not prevent an individual from determining what can and cannot be said in their presence. Now the consequences of their actions based upon said determination are a different story. Basically if I don't like what you say I am free to beat the hell out of you. I will then be punished for said beating but not for preventing your freedom of speech.

Reading between the lines it seems pretty clear that everyone was together in this effort, including the police department, but unless it was officially planned by a governmental body there isn't a lot that those scumbags can do.

Unfortunately, I'd say that this WAS planned and sanctioned by a government body. If I read that right, the vehicles used to block the WBC ones belonged to the county. And the police taking the few that made it to the funeral away just long enough to allow it to go on uninterrupted is further evidence that the county was in on it. You do realize that the police department is a part of the government, right? Even just the police taking them away for questioning can easily be argued as denying them their First Amendment rights. And the WBC knows this. They are horrible evil people, but they aren't stupid. I expect we'll hear more about this in the future.

Still, I think the WBC gets what they deserve. I just don't like the precedent this sets. Should this go to court, the WBC should win. This would be one time I'd actually root for them.

Oh it was planned it is just going to be difficult, if not impossible, to prove that it was planned by a governmental body. The citizens didn't speak up about the assault, I doubt they will here either.

 

[Saviordd1]

I'm not a huge person on capital punishment but these westboro idiots deserve some of their own gods wrath.

My face when they show up in hell

 

[tomme69]

What really annoys me about these people is that they refer to themselves as a church and call themselves Christians, when they are clearly not!

I too tip my hat to the people of Rankin!

No these people are the real Christians, they follow the bible to the letter. Its just that most people who call them selfs Christians don't even go to church, and have never even read the bible.

 

[yndsu]

I am a Christian and i do not condone war really.
But if a man dies then you DO NOT go to mess up his funeral.
Leave the dead to their rest. Seriously.

Also, what the WBC is doing is going against pretty much EVERYTHING
the Bible teaches. They give all Christians a really bad name.

And it is not the best thind to say and i know i should not be thinking
this way, but who ever was the one who got beaten up, i doubt that
you got a big enough arsewhooping. You need more of it.

And good for the people of Rankin. Brilliantly done.
And i hope that there will be more places that will follow them
in the good fight against the WBC.

 

[Timedraven 117]

This quote from the story stood out "Sometimes, when all else has fails, you need the good old boys to get things done." So in other words, the WBC was thwarted by the crooked Southern police force treating them like they were blacks in the 1960s. Um, yay? I guess I'm thankful it happened to irritating jerks who deserve it for once, but still. Feels all icky. Don't want to go to the South any time soon.

they mean the rednecks not the police

 

[Saltyk]

I google'd this, and found someone who talked about how the people of Rankin county still broke the first amendment. True, I'm glad it happened, but if they're allowed to get away with it then that means anyone could.

Westboro will only be beaten when no one cares anymore.

I'm divided on this. I hate the Westboro Baptist Fraud Church. But if this county can do it to them (considering that the Supreme Court has guaranteed the WBC's RIGHT to do as they do) what's to stop them from doing this to you and me?

Still, WBC got what they deserved.

Its only against the first amendment if it is sanctioned by a governmental body. The first amendment does not prevent an individual from determining what can and cannot be said in their presence. Now the consequences of their actions based upon said determination are a different story. Basically if I don't like what you say I am free to beat the hell out of you. I will then be punished for said beating but not for preventing your freedom of speech.

Reading between the lines it seems pretty clear that everyone was together in this effort, including the police department, but unless it was officially planned by a governmental body there isn't a lot that those scumbags can do.

Unfortunately, I'd say that this WAS planned and sanctioned by a government body. If I read that right, the vehicles used to block the WBC ones belonged to the county. And the police taking the few that made it to the funeral away just long enough to allow it to go on uninterrupted is further evidence that the county was in on it. You do realize that the police department is a part of the government, right? Even just the police taking them away for questioning can easily be argued as denying them their First Amendment rights. And the WBC knows this. They are horrible evil people, but they aren't stupid. I expect we'll hear more about this in the future.

Still, I think the WBC gets what they deserve. I just don't like the precedent this sets. Should this go to court, the WBC should win. This would be one time I'd actually root for them.

Oh it was planned it is just going to be difficult, if not impossible, to prove that it was planned by a governmental body. The citizens didn't speak up about the assault, I doubt they will here either.

The thing is I don't think it would be THAT difficult. No one would have to reveal the conspiracy, the WBC would just have to establish enough proof that there was one. I don't think any reasonable person could look at this situation and think there wasn't a government action going on here. They wouldn't even have to prove intent, just that the government was infringing their Freedom of Speech.

Admittedly, my understanding of the legal system is limited, but I'm pretty sure the WBC would have a strong case. Also, if they could file a suit in civil court, the requirements for proof are almost laughable. I'm not saying they could since this would involve a government, but I wouldn't put it past them to sue individuals.

 

[Jabberwock King]

I know that these assholes have incurred the wrath of people before, but what was the worst thing to ever happen to them? It just seems like the most vile people in existence never get what they deserve. For example, do you know how many assassination attempts were made on Adolf Hitler? At least 42, they all obviously failed.

 

[Bento Box]

Wow, really? There are people defending what the county did?

I'm going to get flamed hard for this, and people are inevitably going to assume that I'm some kind of homophobe which, of course, couldn't be further from the truth, but if you defend something, it means you must be a part of it right (all you 'straight' people who defend gay rights, and all you 'white' people who defend black rights)?

RANKIN FUCKING DID IT WRONG.

Fred Phelps and his family and church (and yes, they are a church) are a festering, pustulent boil on the world, but THEY HAVE EVERY FUCKING RIGHT TO SAY EVERY TERRIBLE THING THAT THEY SAY. Assaulting them, barricading them, and interfering with them in ANY WAY is a violation of their fucking rights. I don't care that you disagree with them, and neither does the law. What Rankin county did was grounds for a lawsuit, and you know what? I hope the county gets served.

Fuck WBC.

Fuck Rankin county more.

It's worth pointing out that Rankin wasn't doing this to defend someone who was gay. They were pissed off because the protest was coming to a soldier's funeral. If the protest had come to the funeral of some random gay kid who'd been murdered, there would have been ZERO stink.

Also, to those of you saying that they're not 'real' Christians, I hope that the "true Scotsmen" among you are ready to defend those words with your Bibles, because Fred Phelps is ready -- and he does it all the time.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Oh my god, that is awesome. I wish I lived in a town this epic.