Christians may start picketing US soldier's funerals again

[Tock]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/break...ry/392678.html

Appeals court ruling opens door to Missouri funeral pickets

By MARK MORRIS

The Kansas City Star


A Topeka church soon could resume picketing at soldiers’ funerals in Missouri because of a federal appeals court ruling Thursday.
A three-judge panel ruled that a Kansas City judge erred last year when he refused to give the Westboro Baptist Church a preliminary injunction while considering whether two Missouri laws banning funeral pickets were unconstitutional.
Writing for the panel, Circuit Judge Kermit E. Bye stressed that the appeals court was not ruling on the constitutionality of the laws. However, Bye said that because the church had shown a “fair” chance of ultimately winning its case, it deserved a preliminary injunction, which would bar the state from enforcing the laws while litigation continued.
“The injunction will not cause substantial harm to others, and the public is served by the preservation of constitutional rights,” Bye wrote.
Church members have complained that the Missouri laws violate their freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of church founder Fred Phelps, filed the suit and said Thursday that she was “thrilled” with the ruling.
“We see here that there is someone left in this country with their constitutional head on straight,” Phelps-Roper said. “It was starting to feel like the Twilight Zone in here.”
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon immediately announced plans to appeal to the full 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Missouri has the right to protect the families of our fallen military members from these intrusive and disgusting protests,” Nixon said in a written statement.

[Logan13]

http://www.kansascity.com/news/break...ry/392678.html

Appeals court ruling opens door to Missouri funeral pickets

By MARK MORRIS

The Kansas City Star


A Topeka church soon could resume picketing at soldiers’ funerals in Missouri because of a federal appeals court ruling Thursday.
A three-judge panel ruled that a Kansas City judge erred last year when he refused to give the Westboro Baptist Church a preliminary injunction while considering whether two Missouri laws banning funeral pickets were unconstitutional.
Writing for the panel, Circuit Judge Kermit E. Bye stressed that the appeals court was not ruling on the constitutionality of the laws. However, Bye said that because the church had shown a “fair” chance of ultimately winning its case, it deserved a preliminary injunction, which would bar the state from enforcing the laws while litigation continued.
“The injunction will not cause substantial harm to others, and the public is served by the preservation of constitutional rights,” Bye wrote.
Church members have complained that the Missouri laws violate their freedom of speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter of church founder Fred Phelps, filed the suit and said Thursday that she was “thrilled” with the ruling.
“We see here that there is someone left in this country with their constitutional head on straight,” Phelps-Roper said. “It was starting to feel like the Twilight Zone in here.”
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon immediately announced plans to appeal to the full 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Missouri has the right to protect the families of our fallen military members from these intrusive and disgusting protests,” Nixon said in a written statement.

It will not be tolerated. If they picketed a funeral for a member of my family or friends, I would gladly spend the night in jail to prove my point.......

[Pooks]

It will not be tolerated. If they picketed a funeral for a member of my family or friends, I would gladly spend the night in jail to prove my point.......

Agreed, that is completely tasteless.

I am all for the 1st amendment right, and the right to picket. Yes, and I do agree with the judge that gives them right to picket wherever they like. Unfortunately, somethings are just stupid ideas.
If these people want to picket a funeral, they need to put a couple of brain cells together and realize it's not going to go over very well with anyone!

Picket in front of the state house, don't be dis-respecting a person's funeral.
Saddest part is, this is Christian group wanting to do this!

These people should be protecting the sanctity of a funeral procession, not making political statements during it.

Makes me sick!
When Religion and Politics mix, its just always disgusting.