The Arizona Legislature passed an  emergency bill that would bar funeral protests.  Westboro baptist church (no caps intentional) intends to protest the funeral of 9 year old Christina Taylor Green, for whatever reason.  Governor Jan Brewer is expected to sign the bill this evening and it would go into effect immediately.  The new law would prohibit protesting at or near funerals in Arizona. 

According to Politics Daily:

On Monday, members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church said they plan to protest outside the funeral of Christina Taylor Green, one of six people killed in the shootings that wounded another 14 people, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

Westboro Baptist, a small church in Topeka, pickets at funerals of military veterans and people who have died of AIDS because its members say their deaths are God’s punishment for America’s tolerance of homosexuality. Salon reported that a flier posted by the church on its website regarding the Tucson protest declared “God hates Catholics” — the little girl’s family is Catholic — and “God Hates Fags.” The church website also features a video with founder/pastor Fred Phelps thanking God for the deadly shootings.

Numerous states have passed laws restricting protests at funerals after members of the Westboro church began demonstrating at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Arizona legislation is modeled on an Ohio law that was upheld by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Phoenix Democrat.

“This is just horrific that … people have to deal with this. We shouldn’t have to do this in time of great pain for our state,” Sinema told the Post.

Under the bill, picketing or protesting within 300 feet of a funeral service is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail.

Shirley Phelps-Roper of the Westboro church said church members will get around the ban by protesting at intersections that are farther than 300 feet from the services.

But some in area are planning a counter-action to protect the grieving family.

Tonight I will dream of watching those people getting  hauled away and dragged across the pavement.  Sshhhhhhhhh don’t tell Ken Cuccinelli.  He wouldn’t like us inhibiting free speech, even if someone is  yelling fire in a crowded theater.

Westboro Baptist appears to be ever bit as mentally ill as the shooter.  They represent pure evil.  Perhaps finally we can all agree on what hate rhetoric really is. 

35 Thoughts to “AZ Legislature Passes Emergency Bill Barring Funeral Protests”

  1. Remember Moon, if a private citizen does it, it does not break the 1st Amendment…….

    It might be assault, but it’s not a ban on speech. 😉

  2. hs4265

    I see a difference between mentally ill people like the shooter and unbalanced, disturbed, evil people like the people in this church. I think we should be careful not to clump them all together. Just saying…

  3. Sometimes violence does enter one’s mind…..and you long for the “good ol’ days” when idiots like this “would be taken care of.”

    Dueling had its place. As did running a problem out of town on a rail. Or just a good butt-whuppin’

    MMMMmmmm good times…..

    Oh. Was I dreaming out loud again….. 😮

  4. Starryflights

    Is Ken Cuckoo a supporter of Westboro Baptist. Church? I didn’t know that.

  5. Emma

    @Starryflights Wow, that’s a fairly evil assumption. Par for the course this week, I guess.

  6. marinm

    Cheap shot on Ken, noted.

    Also, the free enterprise…err people banding together to make angel wings and carry flags so that those attending the funeral don’t have to see the WBC nutjobs was done without having the guvmint involved.

  7. Cheap shot? He refused to file an amicus brief for the case hard before the Supreme Court regarding Westboro Baptist.
    https://www.moonhowlings.net/index.php/2010/06/02/ag-cuccinelli-disappoints-once-again/

    He doesn’t support them, he supports free speech.

    So am I not supposed to mention his position regarding these evil people.

    Sorry. He took a public position regarding my state. I won’t just forget about it.

  8. Thanks for sharing my fantasy, Cargo. 😉

    I will bring you a file in a cake.

  9. marinm

    What part of the 1A do you not like MH? Want to burn some books while you’re at it?

    I might not like the Virgin Mary made out of fecus and nude because some guy thinks it’s art —- but it’s his right to do it.

    So, let’s say Phelps wins the case with the SCOTUS. Do you think Ken got lucky or that 48 other AGs didn’t understand the 1A?

  10. George S. Harris

    @marinm
    So it will be OK if the westboro crowd comes to protest at your funeral when the time comes? Or would you prefer that someone just pour some good whiskey (your choice of type/brand) over your grave? Of course, if I’m doing it, I would prefer to pass it through my kidneys first. 😎

  11. marinm

    Well, as long as I get to pick the brand and year it’s ok. But, you better save up!!!

    Make sure that if it’s filtered by your kidneys that you don’t have any rock gut stored in ’em.

  12. marinm :

    What part of the 1A do you not like MH? Want to burn some books while you’re at it?

    I might not like the Virgin Mary made out of fecus and nude because some guy thinks it’s art —- but it’s his right to do it.

    So, let’s say Phelps wins the case with the SCOTUS. Do you think Ken got lucky or that 48 other AGs didn’t understand the 1A?

    And I would say that public nor private museums don’t have to display ‘art’ like that also.
    I want to burn no books. However, free speech is not without limits. Westboro uses loopholes in order to get away with atrocious behavior that it totally repugnant to most people.

    When I think of all the bans on smoking, drinking, etc. that have been enacted by govt. and yet there are no controls on westboro, I want to gag. Something is very screwed up.

    You don’t protest at someone else’s funeral. Period.

    I am not sure what conclusions can be drawn about the SCOTUS decision/non decision.
    When is that one supposed to be handed down?

  13. marinm

    I figure March but it could be earlier.

    I’m not looking forward to it; either way.

  14. I am. And I want Westboro to go down in flames–straight to Hell eventually. I dislike anyone using our open laws against us.

    Why is Assuage or whatever that toad’s nbame is being considered for execution in the USA? What about HIS free speech? For the record, I would pull the switch on him also.

    The Snyder vs Westboro case was heard last June. How long does it take for Pete’s sake.

    I don’t think any of our rights are unlimited.

  15. marinm

    I think I’m in the minority but I don’t think Assuage should be executed. I really don’t see how his publishing information as a ‘journalist’ should lead to execution? The Army PFC in the brig at Quantico? Yes, let him ride the lightning. Assuage? Sure he’s a tool and he’s in it for himself rather than an idea of transparency but execution? No.

  16. Why not marin, he has endangered millions of Americans. There are people undercover all over the world. He has put them at risk for profit. Transparency be damned.

    I don’t care if he executed or imprisoned for decades.

  17. Good one Cato. I expect any frat house at UVA would have surpassed them in gross out factor.

  18. Elena

    Cato the Elder :hahaha Frat boys vs. WBC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZfZiBRFM5w&feature=channel

    Fabulous Cargo, thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  19. Cato the Elder

    @Moon-howler

    Yeah, if it was my frat there would have been public urination charges involved 🙂

  20. marinm

    @Moon-howler

    Agreed he put his interest over those of others and government but did HE do anything legally wrong? What oath did he break? What law? Is he considered a journalist?

    I have no problem with a Pvt burning over this as when he signed for his clearance he took an oath to protect the data he would have access to and not reveal it. He lied.

    Assange never made such an oath.

  21. Marin, I believe he will be charged with espionage. I am not sure of all the legal eagle specifics of that charge. How do we charge other spies? I don’t know.

    The definition of journalism has expanded somewhat over the years. I don’t know what I would classify him as.

    I have never made an oath to the United States either. I expect I could still be charged with treason if I committed certain acts against this country. He is not a citizen of the country so he couldn’t be charged with treason but espionage entends that idea for non citizens.

  22. marinm

    Selective prosecution? 😉

    If you use the Espionage Act don’t you also have to go after the Post, the Times, the Guardian, etc?

    Although the Justice Department has taken the position that media organizations could be prosecuted for printing leaked classified information under the legislation, that prospect is unlikely because of official aversion to running afoul of the First Amendment, experts said. Indeed, the Justice Department has never brought such a case, they said. – WPost

    I’m just saying that it’s not as straight forward as a lot of people think and it’s further complicated by other factors.

    But, would be fun to see the sparks fly if Justice tried something like that..

  23. I have no idea. I don’t know enough to even offer an opinion. Try to drag Moe or someone else who knows more than I do about espionage into the conversation.

    I would want to jail him for being arrogant and smug. There probably isn’t a law against that.

  24. @marinm
    I was thinking perhaps 12 year old The Macallan might work. The older stuff is just too expensive and I wouldna want to waste it.

    As to Julian Assange–do you REALLY believe he is a journalist or is he just another kook with a God complex? The reason I think he is the latter is that he apparently believes he is above all laws regarding secrecy and no sense of moral obligation to society in general–just as long as he continues to keep the spotlight on himself. Who knows how many deaths and untold hours of torture he has caused? I would strap him and that Army puke together and flip the switch.

  25. Cheer George! I agree. ‘That Army puke’ says it all.

  26. Westboro has agreed not to protest Christine Green’s funeral in exchange for air time in Canada and the USA. I hope they get told to go to hell.

    They plan on being front and center for the judge.

  27. marinm

    I don’t disagree he’s at the bottom of the cesspool of humanity but I disagree that his actions are illegal.

    I think journalist should be interpreted broadly. I consider MH a journalist as operator of her blog. If the jackbooted thugs decided to break into her house sans a warrant I’ll be one of those guys that give her defense fund some money.

    I want this to be clear. I think Assange is in things for himself. He wants to make a name for himself. He wants to ‘rile’ up anyone he can to get his name or face on national/global news. I think he’s like the Kathy Griffin of journalism. But, to me he’s a journalist and thus should be protected to the extent that the 1A allows.

    Now, George while you urinating on my headstone (I only ask that you avoid my wife and my chevron’s) can you save some of that stuff for Assange’s? 🙂

    I have met no one that doesn’t think the Army PFC needs to die.

  28. If we take that approach, then no spies are culpable. How about people like Toyko Rose, Hanoi Hannah who harmed Americans? I can’t think of any foreign born spies at the moment.

  29. If Assange continues what he is doing, SOMEONE is going to kill him, probably the Russians.

    The Army puke can go rot.

    The new Arizona law isn’t preventing free speech. It’s just stating that its inappropriate to do so at a funeral, like shouting “fire” when there isn’t one.

    Personally, I think that they should be arrested for inciting to riot. In some places it is legal to burn the flag, but you will be arrested for inciting a riot…..

  30. Wolverine

    You guys had better be careful about expressing your fantasies concerning what you would like to see happen to the Westboros. If anyone should actually take such action, the finger of blame might start to revolve toward motivation stemming from allegedly visceral comments on a certain blog. Of course, you are likely to have a lot of company in that docket.

  31. DB

    @wolverine…Think the free jinger blogs might be more front and central when it comes to the Westboros, Phelps and his ilk than anything said on this blog.

  32. Wolverine

    Tongue-in-cheek, DB, tongue-in-cheek. I just forgot how to use those little yellow face thingies hiding out somewhere on this infernal computer machine.

  33. DB

    @wolverine…LOL.

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