Huge fine for anti-gay US church

I don't see this standing up in appeal. This is blatantly contrary to the First Amendment's guarentee to free speech. The only way to stop this church from protesting would be to pass legistlation that protesting a funeral is illegal (which would then have to work its way through the court system). There is no such legislation, and as far as the law is concerned a funeral is not a legitimate reason to put the Constitution on hold.

We in the US call ourselves tolerant, but we aren't. We just don't tie a bomb around our waist and detonate it in a crowded cafe. I am a Christian, but I am told almost weekly by other Christians that I'm going to hell because my Christian doctrine and beliefs are not the same as theirs. I have never been verbally abused by Muslims, Buddist, Hindus, or any other religion to my face. To think of cheering the death of one of our soldiers is nuts. Next they'll be having witch trials and hanging citizens for committing adultery. Nothing like that could ever happen in North America, could it?

(Salem Massachusetts)

Just for clarification, are you saying we should tolerate a group celebrating at our children's funerals?

Im assuming not.

I personally think funerals should be off-limits from any type of protest. I'll take that even as far as presidents or governors. However, current law doesn't make funerals or funeral homes off limits in most places (there may be a few states that limit protests at funerals, but most do not), and I don't think this is a place where courts should step in. The courts were never setup to legislate. They are setup to interpret laws and to judge constitutionality of existing laws. We, as a country, get ourselves into legal situations wildly unpopular and controversial when we allow a handful of judges to dictate public policy without the people's input. If this is something most Americans feel strongly about (and I think most do) then there should be enough support in either the state or national legislatures to pass laws limiting these practices. The legislature is where this debate lies, not in the US justice system.

As far as the issue of inciting a riot I don't see it. To my knowledge there has never been a riot incited by this organization. Likewise, I don't think slander really holds any water because the group isn't saying anything at all about the fallen soldier. slander involves the defamation of an individual by willfully spreading falsities about that person. This group is talking about the US as a whole, not the individual.

Hateful, disgusting speech is not an excuse to ignore the first amendment. Especially when speech is determined to be hateful or disgusting by a judge or 12 jurors.

That would seem to imply that the 10 Commandments should be ignored but yet there are those that want them in prominent places.

http://toledoohioneighborhoodconcerns.com/blog

I'm a 110% happy this group is getting some heat. I like the prosecutor's committment to stay on this group until justice is served. Imagine how many cases can now go against this group?

Funeral protesters at Family Events are just plain wrong in any culture. To be truthful, I'm surprised these guys are still alive.