Chardon School Shooting

[The Oi]

I like it when people creatively drown them out or block their signs. Has to piss them off.

The motorcysclists drowning them out was awesome.

 

[Phills14]

I like it when people creatively drown them out or block their signs. Has to piss them off.

The motorcysclists drowning them out was awesome.

 

[The Oi]

That was a big day for me.

 

[supergoat52]

I'm in agreement with those that question why they Westboro Craptists can't be stopped from doing what they do. What's the downside to illegalizing disruption of funerals? Free speech loop-hopes are taken way too far in this country in bad faith.

This would be an example of stretching free speech in bad faith. I'm not sure what the perimeter is of how far away from a funeral they have to be, but it should be something laughable like five miles.

I cant fathom why it's so difficult to stop these people or to pass laws that stop them. So stupid.

This country's legal system remains an embarrassment. Laws are strict in all the wrong areas and irresponsibly light in the areas where society can really be protected from scum like the Craptists and their free speech or TJ and his violent crime.

Sorry for the soap box. I just get angry when I see problems that are easily solved just being ignored repeatedly.

Chich, I'd really love to hear more from you on this in terms of anything else you know about the killer's background or that of the victims...assuming you're willing and able to share. If not, no worries.

We are on the same side in thinking these people are the scum of the earth, but i don't think its realistic to be able to ban their protests. First there are the moral issues. I think its despicable to protest like this, but i think its their right to do so, and even if you don't believe in a snowball effect i think banning just 1 outlet of free speech is already a big enough snowball for concern. This is something that we can just agree to disagree on though, as both sides have good arguments and ultimately it comes down to our personal philosophies about law.

The practical side of it doesn't seem to work either though. If you ban all protests within 5 miles, then people could counter a big protest by holding a funeral near the planned site (say near a park, and then all the Occupy people have to leave). If you make it only 'protests that relate to the funeral', then these WBC people will claim that their protest has nothing to do with the funeral, which in reality is true. Ultimately when you are using the law to try to stamp out one specific problem, its very hard to not just play whack-a-mole while you continuously try to close loopholes. The WBC are going to protest somewhere, so even if you somehow totally rule out funerals, they'll do something else despicable like weddings (you know its true).

Basically, if people want to be assholes they'll find a way to be assholes, unfortunately.

 

[Chris]

We are on the same side in thinking these people are the scum of the earth, but i don't think its realistic to be able to ban their protests. First there are the moral issues. I think its despicable to protest like this, but i think its their right to do so, and even if you don't believe in a snowball effect i think banning just 1 outlet of free speech is already a big enough snowball for concern. This is something that we can just agree to disagree on though, as both sides have good arguments and ultimately it comes down to our personal philosophies about law.

The practical side of it doesn't seem to work either though. If you ban all protests within 5 miles, then people could counter a big protest by holding a funeral near the planned site (say near a park, and then all the Occupy people have to leave). If you make it only 'protests that relate to the funeral', then these WBC people will claim that their protest has nothing to do with the funeral, which in reality is true. Ultimately when you are using the law to try to stamp out one specific problem, its very hard to not just play whack-a-mole while you continuously try to close loopholes. The WBC are going to protest somewhere, so even if you somehow totally rule out funerals, they'll do something else despicable like weddings (you know its true).

Basically, if people want to be assholes they'll find a way to be assholes, unfortunately.

Totally disagree. Limiting this one specific instance does not make me afraid of any sort of snowball effect at all. You can put it under disturbing the peace or some shit, I don't know. There is NO reason people should be allowed to protest funerals. This is not something like burning the flag, which you can argue both sides of.

I don't care how they do it, there has to be a feasible way for them to get rid of this.

I'm too lazy to put too much thought into an idea, though. I don't care enough about it at the end of the day. All I know is I'd be mad as hell if it were my kid, or my brother, or my parents whose funeral was being protested. Ultimately, I'd probably just get over it though and not give them a moment's recognition.

 

[Marcus]

 

[KB]

On topic of the WBC this is how you keep them from coming around
http://thehayride.com/2011/04/westboro-baptist-church-goes-to-mississippi-and-loses/

Westboro Baptist Church Goes To Mississippi – And Loses
Posted by: MacAoidh on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 18:00

On Saturday USMC Staff Sgt. Jason Rogers, who was killed in action in Afghanistan April 7, was buried in Brandon, Mississippi.

That, by itself, is a sadly unremarkable – though certainly noteworthy and solemn – occasion for us to mark.

And in fact when Sgt. Rogers’ body returned to Brandon it was greeted by hundreds, or perhaps even thousands, of well-wishers who gathered at the roadside to honor the fallen American hero. The dashboard camera from Mississippi state trooper Elmo Townsend’s cruiser gives an indication of the scene last Thursday

(video on linked page)

What is most notable about Sgt. Rogers’ funeral in Brandon, however, is what didn’t happen.

You see, the troglodytes from Westboro Baptist Church had threatened to spew their poison at Sgt. Rogers’ funeral.

But the Westboro mob wasn’t on the scene, and Sgt. Rogers was laid to rest without incident – thank God.

Why weren’t there protestors?

Planning ahead by the locals, as it turns out.

From an Ole Miss sports message board, a tidbit of information…

A couple of days before, one of them (Westboro protestors) ran his mouth at a Brandon gas station and got his arse waxed. Police were called and the beaten man could not give much of a description of who beat him. When they canvassed the station and spoke to the large crowd that had gathered around, no one seemed to remember anything about what had happened.

Rankin County handled this thing perfectly. There were many things that were put into place that most will never know about and at great expense to the county.

Most of the morons never made it out of their hotel parking lot. It seems that certain Rankin county pickup trucks were parked directly behind any car that had Kansas plates in the hotel parking lot and the drivers mysteriously disappeared until after the funeral was over. 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.

A few made it to the funeral but were ushered away to be questioned about a crime they might have possibly been involved in. Turns out, after a few hours of questioning, that they were not involved and they were allowed to go on about their business.

Fred Phelps, the disbarred lawyer and Democrat activist who leads the Westboro congregation, will undoubtedly pursue some form of legal action for the way his people were thwarted in Brandon. Let him try. There isn’t a jury in Mississippi which will see things his way.

This is a template for how to handle the Westboro people. If lawsuits don’t work, other means will. Whatever it takes to keep them from harassing bereaved military families on the day their fallen loved ones are laid to rest.

UPDATE: Some of the feedback we’ve received from this piece came along the lines that it’s inappropriate to refer to Fred Phelps as a “Democrat activist.”

We stand by that characterization. If anything, it’s an understatement.

Fred Phelps ran for major office in Kansas as a Democrat no less than four times. He ran for governor on the Democrat ballot in 1990, 1994 and 1998 and for senator in 1992. Phelps received 11,000 votes, or seven percent, in 1990, he received 5,000 votes, or three percent, in 1994 and he picked up 15,000 votes, or 15 percent, in 1998. And in the senatorial contest in 1992 he garnered 49,000 votes, or 30 percent. Phelps furthermore ran as a Democrat candidate for mayor of Topeka in 1993 and 1997.

Phelps also has been closely associated with Al Gore on several occasions throughout Gore’s career – Phelps’ son Fred, Jr. was a Gore delegate at the 1988 Democrat convention and the Phelpses hosted a Gore fundraiser in Topeka that year. Phelps claims that Westboro members “ran” Gore’s 1988 campaign in Kansas.

Phelps may not fit within the typical definition of “Democrat activist” some of our readers expect – but a six-time Democrat candidate is an activist Democrat. That is quite clear, as unknown to the public as it might be

Also

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/0...-block-protesters-picketing-soldiers-funeral/

Residents of Missouri Town Block Protesters From Picketing Soldier's Funeral
Published November 07, 2010| FoxNews.com

Members of a small Missouri town banded together Saturday to block a controversial pastor and members of his Westboro Baptist Church from protesting the funeral of a fallen U.S. soldier, Fox4kc.com reports.

Hundreds of residents in Weston, Mo. -- as well as people as far away as California and Australia -- rallied in support of Sgt. First Class C.J. Sadell, who died from injuries suffered during a surprise attack in Afghanistan.

The residents sought to block Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., and his followers from picketing Sadell’s funeral, according to the station.

Phelps' church has been the subject of intense criticism for holding more than 44,000 pickets at funerals and other events – including the services of fallen service members.

Citing their First Amendment right to protest, Phelps' followers say they use funerals as an “available public platform” to “deliver the message that there is a consequence for sin.” Phelps is openly opposed to homosexuality and all government policies they he says supports homosexuals.

"We got everybody here early so we could take up all the parking spots," Rebecca Rooney of Weston, Mo., told Fox4kc.com. "We did that so Mr. Phelps wouldn't have a contingency that was really close."

"I'm glad they left, but I'm sad they came," she said.

Sadell, who leaves behind a wife and two sons, was stationed in the Arif Kala region of Afghanistan when his unit was ambushed on Oct. 5. Five soldiers were killed in the attack and Sadell was badly injured.

The 34-year-old died from his injuries on Oct. 24.

 

[Numbers Guy]

I actually learned something new today... TJ's mom was adopted.. unclear of at what age.. but she suffered from schizophrenia, depression among other things. No one really knows where she is though it is speculated she is being housed.

 

[Numbers Guy]

Wrong.

"PRAISE GOD FOR SENDING THE SHOOTER TO A HIGH SCHOOL IN OHIO – 1 DEAD, 4 INJURED!" - Directly from their "blog."

Anything more to contribute?

 

[Marcus]

"PRAISE GOD FOR SENDING THE SHOOTER TO A HIGH SCHOOL IN OHIO – 1 DEAD, 4 INJURED!" - Directly from their "blog."

Anything more to contribute?

Goes to show just how ignorant they are, they can't even name specifics. Just ignore them.

 

[bcort]

Goes to show just how ignorant they are, they can't even name specifics. Just ignore them.

It was from the 27th.

 

[Chris]

"PRAISE GOD FOR SENDING THE SHOOTER TO A HIGH SCHOOL IN OHIO – 1 DEAD, 4 INJURED!" - Directly from their "blog."

Anything more to contribute?

What the fuck? Can someone enlighten me as to these peoples' cause? Or do they just do this for attention? I don't even understand like...how you can be happy about innocent people being murdered...I don't understand.

 

[Pyro]

What the fuck? Can someone enlighten me as to these peoples' cause? Or do they just do this for attention? I don't even understand like...how you can be happy about innocent people being murdered...I don't understand.

I've already told EVERYONE. They hate gay people. Hate them. So they applaud when a soldier dies, or when a shooter kills 20 people at a school, because it's "god's" revenge for all the gay people in the world.

 

[Marcus]

It was from the 27th.

Was referring more to the fact that they can't even call Chardon High School by name.

 

[Marcus]

What the fuck? Can someone enlighten me as to these peoples' cause? Or do they just do this for attention? I don't even understand like...how you can be happy about innocent people being murdered...I don't understand.

Like I said before, it's just a shameless scam for them to bait people into retaliating so they can sue and make tons of money off of it. They are scam artists hiding behind religion.