Military funeral picketing tests free speech

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Rick in Kansas wrote:

When you get right down to it, this case isn't about the free speech rights of Phelps and his Freak Show of Hate, but ours. Do WE really want juries to determine when OUR own speech is so offensive that it causes others something as nebulous as "emotional distress" to the degree it should be punished? Not just no, but hell no. A loss by Phelps in this case would be an absolute disaster for our movement. Imagine every counter protest to Westboro, Exodus, NOM or any of the other charming groups that are more than happy to vilify us, being sued out of existence because we caused them "emotional distress". Pride parades and rallies having to be canceled because they might come within range of any church which might be "offended" by their very presence. Remember, in this case, the Freaks were 1500 feet away behind a cordon of Patriot Guard, police and media causing their "emotional distress", so where does the line get drawn beyond that to make not just their speech, but our own as well, no longer punishable? As much as we would all love for the Freak Show to get what is coming to them, this case is an even worse idea than a can of pepper spray.

Curteese wrote:

<quoted text>Read up on him. He has more legal troubles than anyone I have seen. Many of them, including Fred, have been arrested for all kinds of crimes, battery, lying under oath, rackateering, intimidating witnesses, trespassing, and more. Vile terrible people.
His son escaped and admitted to severe beatings and cruelty. Fred is truly a monster.

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Dayle wrote:

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Totally agree hs is. Still think their church should be subjected to the kind of disruption that they create on others.