http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/12/AR2011011202545.html

Legislature bans protesting in Arizona.

1/12/2011 12:03:14 PM

1/12/2011 12:06:04 PM

I wish Jared Loughner would have taken out Westboro Baptist Church instead.

1/12/2011 12:31:01 PM

it's not too late.... we need a stand-up kind of guy.

1/12/2011 12:42:41 PM

Quote :

"The Arizona Legislature unanimously passed a measure Tuesday banning protests at or near funeral sites. "

whether or not this is reasonable -- or even constitutional -- it doesnt make any goddamned sense for this:

Quote :

"Phelps-Roper says the church decided against the picket in exchange for airtime with 102.1 The Edge in Toronto, Canada, and an interview with KXXT-AM in Phoenix, Ariz. on Saturday morning."

why are these stations giving these fucks air time?

1/12/2011 12:45:30 PM

It'd be awesome if the radio station rickroll'd the Phelps when they showed up to the Radio station.

1/12/2011 12:47:43 PM

^^ i think they believe they'd rather give them air time in a controlled environment rather than have them at the funeral of a 9 year old little girl

1/12/2011 1:11:50 PM

Where are the usual suspects to defend this travesty of progressive policy in the bastion of leftism of Arizona?

1/12/2011 7:46:46 PM

my understanding is that they passed this on an emergency basis, knowing full well it would eventually be struck down as unconstitutional, in order to prevent the westboro asshats from protesting at the victims funerals.

1/12/2011 9:56:24 PM

... I agree that it's in terrible taste to protest at a funeral, but I also think this is a blatant infringement on our rights. And that annoys me way more.

1/12/2011 10:15:24 PM

Gah I understand that you can't make exceptions for the first amendment because then it becomes meaningless. And that goes doubly for imprisoning people based on their beliefs.

But with WBC I always find myself thinking, "C'mon, let's do it just this once, what's the worst that could happen?"

[Edited on January 12, 2011 at 10:54 PM. Reason : it's like "just the tip" but it ends with Fred Phelps dying in Guantanamo Bay]

1/12/2011 10:54:17 PM

^ exactly. They knew it would be struck down, and were fine with that. By then, it would have served its purpose.

It's a rare instance when I deliberately side against the U.S. Constitution, but the WBC warrants it. Anything bad that happens to that is fine by me.


I can't believe nobody's gone all Texas belltower-style on those motherfuckers yet. Hopefully there will be problems with how the evidence was handled when it eventually happens.

1/12/2011 11:01:24 PM

^^ I just lost my shit laughing at that.

1/12/2011 11:09:28 PM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41027365/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Quote :

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

NC has the same type of law - it is disorderly conduct to protest within "X" feet of a funeral procession

Quote :

"(8) Engages in conduct with the intent to impede, disrupt, disturb, or interfere with the orderly administration of any funeral, memorial service, or family processional to the funeral or memorial service, including a military funeral, service, or family processional, or with the normal activities and functions occurring in the facilities or buildings where a funeral or memorial service, including a military funeral or memorial service, is taking place. Any of the following conduct that occurs within one hour preceding, during, or within one hour after a funeral or memorial service shall constitute disorderly conduct under this subdivision: a. Displaying, within 300 feet of the ceremonial site, location being used for the funeral or memorial, or the family's processional route to the funeral or memorial service, any visual image that conveys fighting words or actual or imminent threats of harm directed to any person or property associated with the funeral, memorial service, or processional route. b. Uttering, within 300 feet of the ceremonial site, location being used for the funeral or memorial service, or the family's processional route to the funeral or memorial service, loud, threatening, or abusive language or singing, chanting, whistling, or yelling with or without noise amplification in a manner that would tend to impede, disrupt, disturb, or interfere with a funeral, memorial service, or processional route. c. Attempting to block or blocking pedestrian or vehicular access to the ceremonial site or location being used for a funeral or memorial."

http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_14/gs_14-288.4.html

I smell a troll

[Edited on January 12, 2011 at 11:11 PM. Reason : add]

1/12/2011 11:09:56 PM

Quote :

"I agree that it's in terrible taste to protest at a funeral, but I also think this is a blatant infringement on our rights."

IOW, not only do you hate 9 year olds, you support mocking them and their families and friends as they mourn?

^ so was this passed to be struck down, or is it a legitimate law to be had with good precedent?

[Edited on January 13, 2011 at 12:26 AM. Reason : ]

1/13/2011 12:25:08 AM

you will have to ask the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

being set on judicial precedent - it will most likely stand

1/13/2011 12:54:38 AM

Quote :

"I just lost my shit laughing at that."

Then -- and for once, not just because I'm in love with myself -- I suggest posting it in the Soap Box Quotes 2011 thread to set a precedent for posting shit people actually think is funny and not just because they disagree with it.

---

As usual with WBC-related things, funeral protest laws are a tough call. It's not like most people favor infinite free speech. You aren't allowed to disrupt congressional proceedings by yelling (as a woman recently found out), which makes pretty good sense. No point in having a legislature if one person can sit in the room and shout to the point deliberations can't happen.

(Actually, side note, I once got yelled at in the Senate Gallery by the nazi-librarian looking lady in charge of maintaining silence. I wasn't talking much, but the mayor of some podunk town in Louisiana was handing my buddy and I business cards and saying we could probably get a government job if we showed up and asked. I assume it's because we were the only people under seventy who were recreationally watching government)

So if you can tell people they can't yell in one place, you can tell them not to yell other places, and I suppose sooner or later it's a slippery slope...but again, I can't help but hope that maybe, this once, we have sense enough to see that this isn't close to the line.

1/13/2011 1:35:53 AM