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Bout time someone nailed these people.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/...neral_protests

Quote:

BALTIMORE - A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals out of a belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
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Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.

Snyder's attorney, Craig Trebilcock, had urged jurors to determine an amount "that says don't do this in Maryland again. Do not bring your circus of hate to Maryland again."

Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries. But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.

The church and three of its leaders — the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46 — were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.

Even the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted.

Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that soldiers are dying because the nation is too tolerant of homosexuality.

Their attorneys maintained in closing arguments Tuesday that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse. Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag and carried a sign that read "God hates *** enablers." Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

Don't even get me started on those people . . .

right on, I cant imagine what kind of person would do that, makes me so angry that humans could do that to a grieving family, what I would give to be in a room with these people with a sledge hammer

I can assure you they do not represent mainstream Christian beliefs. That said one of those people wouldn't want to cross my path..... I would teach them the meaning of justice.

The First Amendment does not guarantee the freedom of "expression", as it seems people think it to do. People like this, in my mind, are traitors; and they deserve to be persecuted to the fullest extent of human capability. Desecrating a fallen hero's funeral is an unspeakable crime. If the law were in my hands, these people would have been hanged. But I guess that's why the law isn't up to me... ;o)

In agreement with HercDriver, let God do the judging.

HercDriver is right. Those guys are wackos. They are extremists in every sense of the word. I'm glad to see someone fight back. We actually counter-protested when they tried to come to my city. I loved it.

The First Amendment says Congress can't suppress free speech through legislation, but it doesn't say we have to listen to, nor allow the garbage some people call "free speech."

You got it right; someone should string-up these SOB's.

Take a look at these guys- righteous group that's been standing up against this for a ways now http://www.patriotguard.org/

Sadly, this wacko "church" is as bad as the fundamentalist Islamics that the US military is fighting. Anybody that uses somebody else to get their "message" across (kids with IEDS strapped to their bodies or using a fallen service member AND their grieving families and friends) is beyond shameless.

I don't see how any decent human with the least shred of decency could let something like "protesting" at anyone's funeral even enter their mind.

I truly hope the settlement leaves them with nothing and haunts them (if only financially) for the rest of their days.

If you've ever seen a funeral procession with the Patriot Guard leading the way you know how moving it is. What those guys and gals are doing to show support for fallen troops far outweighs the protests of a couple religous whackjobs.

If every family did what the Snyder family did these jackoffs won't be around for long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilotpip (Post 257250)

The Patriot Guard actually escorted my best friends body when he returned home to his family in Ohio and prevented those disrespectful twits (Trying really hard to censor myself here) from picketing his funeral. I heard when his remains were being escorted through the city it practically shut down the freeway and everybody gave him a heroes welcome, showing the utmost respect for a fallen hero.

Had those... people... had their way and picketed the funeral making the grieving process that much harder for my friend's family I would probably be typing this from a federal pen for the unspeakable acts I would have committed upon our return home. These people need to suffer for the pain they have caused and the disrespect they have shown...

My hat is off to the Patriot Guard and I am grateful for all that they do! My son's Godmother (My deceased best friend's older sister) was so moved by the Patriot Guard she went out and bought a motorcycle to ride with them and carry on her brother's memory.