Arizona Shooting Funeral Protest Strains the First Amendment

Reader Comments
Back to blog

What does Glenn Beck have to do with your story? Amazingly, you found some way to include him. WBC has nothing to do with Beck, or even the left or right, and Beck has nothing to do with WBC. I see no point to that entire paragraph other than to bash Beck and somehow tie him to the fanatical WBC crazies.
Darcy of AR, you are 100% correct!

Skip of NE 9:18AM January 14, 2011

My Heart aches for these victims but also here are a few things to keep in mind regarding Westboro Baptist Church:
1) They are a self-sustaining cult. They are not proselytizing, nor are they seeking converts. They don't care if you ever come around to their way of thinking.
2) This is not political speech: It is a religious message, from their point of view. They are not seeking change in America. They are foretelling our doom, nothing more.
3) Their intent is to incite violence directed at themselves.
4) They publish their protest schedule and notify police in advance. If there are any incidents, they sue the local government for not adequately protecting their free speech rights.
This is Ironic since "God Hates The USA", which should logically include our Constitution - that they are using to enrich themselves by claiming rights and damages under.
Furthermore; Incidents of vandalism against their vehicles occur in a timely manner. For example, their tires always seem to get slashed around the time they are going bald. Whenever they have to rent costly vans, those vehicles seem to get their windows shattered (covered in the insurance). The criminal damage is then claimed under state crime victims programs, offsetting rental costs and then some.

Darcey of AR 5:18PM January 13, 2011

Citizens born in the United States are the target of elimination and are slowly being pushed out of the workforce. Illegal immigrants in the U.S earn an average income of $30,000 per yr with no papers, elementary diploma, high school diploma, or college degree. This is our land and civilization we were born here. A fact is illegal immigrants hate U.S citizens; many raise their kids to be lawbreakers, criminals and to support terrorism in the USA. This Dream Act is a breach of national security and must be stopped now. The people do not have to accept this treason or any new laws or legislation that supports foreigners before it’s own legal citizens. Organize & mobilize join us at http://usmoa.org/

Pushed By A Failing System of CA 10:04AM January 13, 2011

They have no right to disrupt or intrude upon people's grief at a funeral. To call this a 1st Amendment issue is in my opinion absurd. They are free to spew their garbage out through various other channels but they should be arrested and jailed if they try to do so close to the funerals of the fallen.

Scott of MN 7:54PM January 12, 2011

This idea is not mine, originally. I have borrowed it. Think of every word as a prayer. What is it you pray for with your words and how will you create your world? You have more power than you know.
If you were involved in a stoning, would you claim that your stone was not responsible for the death of the recipient of those stones?

Steve of CA 7:21PM January 12, 2011

I meant it shouldn't be liberal against conservative. Sorry about that, I know liberal against democrat doesn't make sense.

Raph of AZ 6:50PM January 12, 2011

I meant it shouldn't be liberal against conservative. Sorry about that, I know liberal against democrat doesn't make sense.

Raph of AZ 6:48PM January 12, 2011

It is really sad that people read this and the first thing they decide to comment on is political. This was about a crazy religious group trying to ruin the funeral of an innocent nine year old girl. It really shows how obsessed our society is with politics. You choose that to rant about. A nine year old's funeral being disrupted is not worth a comment, but the second politics appear you immediately have to comment on it. It is sad. This shooting should have been a wake up call! We need to quit bashing the other side! It should not be liberal against democrat. We are one country. We have different views, but yelling at eachother won't solve anything. Apparently, our hate has gone to far. People were killed. A nine year old was shot. Get over your damn political views!

Raph of AZ 6:43PM January 12, 2011

If you want to talk about hate go back to us being called racist for being against obamacare. You liberals throw that racist term around a whole lot. Polls should direction of health care change was taking was unacceptable. No open debate in Congress and certainly no round the clock coverage on CSPAN. Done exactly the opposite way barry said it would be done.
Glenn Beck is almost always ridiculed here without quotes in context. I have seen partial quote of Rush famous "barry to fail". Never in full context by a liberal. Recently article had partial quote of judge. Author looked foolish when full quote was provided by commenter.
Sheriff in Arizona made unsubstantiated comment to media concerning a on going case, a very harmful thing to do and he admits nothing in case supports his view. Sheriff says he will not enforce illegal law of State.
With all your malarkey polls show you do no good. People have listen and felt results of liberals under barry:
“CBS Poll: By 57% to 32% Margin Americans Say Political Rhetoric Had Nothing to do With Giffords Shooting”
http://republicanifi.com/news/CBS-Poll-By-57-to-32-Margin-Americans-Say-Political-Rhetoric-Had-Nothing-to-do-With-Giffords-Shooting-1526078.html
Grieve with the families that lost love ones and prey for the injured. Stop trying to exploit the situation for political gain. There are a few Congress members seeking contribution using this. Democrats by the way. Maybe from Vermont...

Bill Hedges of MO 2:51PM January 12, 2011

While your post for the most part is right on, you really needs to check your own rhetoric :
"Glen Beck ........ is piously attacking the left for purportedly using the shootings to taint the Tea Party movement."
Nothing "purported" at all about the Lefts use of this tragedy committed by an unstable nutcase. their vitriol has been way over the top on this one.
You need to put a hold on your own pious attacks.

junior of DC 1:29PM January 12, 2011