PA - Five girls dead, 5 injured in Amish school shooting, 2 Oct 2006

[Shadow205]

I just deleted my post, because I didn't get the question right...I mean, how is the WBC related to this story?

Is their website really godhatesfags?

They are planning to do one of their protests at the funerals.

 

[christine2448]

They are planning to do one of their protests at the funerals.

Pitiful! And they are a baptist church? And their website is godhatesfags?

I am just speechless if the answers to these questions are yes.

 

[ljwf22]

Oh my.......yes.......sorry......I was doing two things at once.
Yes.........Schoolhouse.

I'm a multi-tasker too! Quality is dometimes diminished...... :doh:

 

[englishleigh]

Just heard that Gov. Ed Rendell has offered the Amish bishops the option of the protection of
the PA State Police at the funerals, protection for the families and shielding from this group...the offer is being considered. Hopefully, though, those idiots will go on Mike Gallagher's program instead, and leave these poor grieving families alone.

 

[luthersmama]

>Something is not right in any form when people are allowed to protest at a funeral. Maybe there needs to be a new law. <



There was a law like this passed in MO recently and the ACLU promptly filed suit in behalf of this church to protect it's constitutional right to free speech.

Apparantly people do not have a right to grieve and bury their dead in peace in this country.

I do indeed fear that if they continue their protests that something bad is going to happen.

We have such a law in Pennsylvania and the Governor was just on the radio saying that he will do whatever the Amish community wants him to do about the protestors. The State Police are prepared to enforce the law if the Amish want them to.

Our statute does not prohibit the protests, but requires the protestors to stay at least 500 feet away. That avoids the constitutional problem that other states have experienced.

If the services are at farms, the houses are probably set way back from the road so the protestors would have to trespass on private property to get near enough to cause a ruckus. I expect the neighbors will be patrolling the funeral locations regardless of what the police do.

 

[Sundayrain]

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Persistent protesters from a Kansas church wouldn't be welcome at Kentucky funerals under a bill called out of a state Senate committee yesterday.

The legislation itself will be the target of yet another protest by Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. Members of that church, calling Kentucky legislators "demagogues masquerading as statesmen," say they will be at the Capitol on Feb. 8. They've also planned a protest the same day at a memorial for Fort Campbell soldiers killed in Iraq.

"It's just not right," said state Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, sponsor of Senate Bill 93. "They're attacking the military on our own soil, and we are doing nothing about it."

Senators moved yesterday to expedite the bill, which would allow police to charge protesters at a funeral with disorderly conduct. A similar measure, House Bill 333, is pending action in a House committee.

The Kansas group routinely protests U.S. soldiers' funerals across the country, carrying signs such as, "Thank God for IEDs," the improvised explosive devices used by insurgents. Members also went to West Virginia to protest at the funerals of dead coal miners last month.

The group, largely the extended family of the Rev. Fred Phelps, sees the deaths as a sign of God punishing America for tolerating gays.

A small group of the protesters gathered outside a chapel in Buckhannon, W.Va., on Jan. 15 with signs reading, "Thank God for Dead Miners," "God Hates Your Tears" and "Miners in Hell."

That protest prompted West Virginia lawmakers who represent the Sago families to propose a bill on Jan. 31 to keep such pickets 500 feet from a funeral or memorial service or risk a felony charge punishable by up to five years in prison and a $2,000 fine.

"It just keeps them away from the families," said West Virginia Delegate Bill Hamilton, an Upshur County Republican whose district includes Sago and who knew two of the miners killed. "They still can protest and exercise their First Amendment rights, but they shouldn't be close to the families."

The region's delegates were joined by colleagues representing Logan County, where two miners died after a Jan. 19 belt line fire at the Aracoma Alma No. 1 mine. The Kansas group had threatened to protest outside the services held over the weekend for miners Don I. "Rizzle" Bragg, 33, of Accoville, and Ellery "Elvis" Hatfield, 47, of Simon, but its members did not show up.

"It's just inhuman for a group that says it's coming in the name of the Lord to protest a funeral," said state Delegate Jeff Eldridge, D-Logan and a co-sponsor. "That's why we're doing what we're doing."

In Illinois, a legislative committee advanced a bill last week that would bar protests within 200 feet during services and 30 minutes before and after them. In West Virginia, Hamilton has also sponsored a yet-to-be-introduced measure that would set the boundary for funeral pickets at 1,000 feet.

Phelps' group did not respond to an e-mail requesting comment on the West Virginia bill. A statement posted on its Web site criticizes such legislation and says it helps spread the group's message.

"We already stand a reasonable distance from the funeral events," it said. "Anything more than about 100 feet will go too far, in most locations, so they will be subject to challenge."

According to the National Council of State Legislatures, lawmakers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin are considering legislation that would limit protests at funerals.

more at the link http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/news.aspx?id=16414

I like the idea of letting some dogs and a few bulls loose in the surrounding fileds too. This has got to stop. I am all for freedom of speach but this is taking it a little bit to far. There is a time and place for everything, this is not the time or place for this BS!

Shadow.....that was a very interesting read. It looks like WV has gotten it right about working on doing something with this crazyness during funerals......
What happened at the mines, is beyond what my mind wants to comprehend.
All the states have to work harder at putting the laws into place.
Sometimes our freedoms work against us.....this is one of those times.

 

[less0305]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217760,00.html

They bargained with Fox News for one hour of air time in exchange for promising not to protest at the funerals.

 

[luthersmama]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,217760,00.html

They bargained with Fox News for one hour of air time in exchange for promising not to protest at the funerals.

I don't like Fox, but they have done a good deed this time. I noticed that the air time is radio instead of tv. That is also good.

 

[BarnGoddess]

Update: I just went over to their hateful site to see what evil thing they had to say about why they are protesting at the Amish funerals. They cancelled. Here's their excuse:

http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/oct2006/20061004_mike-gallagher-show.pdf

They cancelled their "picket" in consideration for being on the Mike Gallagher show tomorrow. This there way of backing out without losing face? Mmmmmm

Here's the main page link where the above announcement is made. I had to get that press release to get the thing to post. Couldn't copy it.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html

At least the families can grieve in peace.

 

[southcitymom]

Update: I just went over to their hateful site to see what evil thing they had to say about why they are protesting at the Amish funerals. They cancelled. Here's their excuse:

http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/oct2006/20061004_mike-gallagher-show.pdf

They cancelled their "picket" in consideration for being on the Mike Gallagher show tomorrow. This there way of backing out without losing face? Mmmmmm

Here's the main page link where the above announcement is made. I had to get that press release to get the thing to post. Couldn't copy it.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html

At least the families can grieve in peace.

Help me out here, BG. My brain cells aren't working.

I am familiar with this man and his "ministry", but why in the world would be be protesting the Amish?

 

[Cypros]

Update: I just went over to their hateful site to see what evil thing they had to say about why they are protesting at the Amish funerals. They cancelled. Here's their excuse:

http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/oct2006/20061004_mike-gallagher-show.pdf

They cancelled their "picket" in consideration for being on the Mike Gallagher show tomorrow. This there way of backing out without losing face? Mmmmmm

Here's the main page link where the above announcement is made. I had to get that press release to get the thing to post. Couldn't copy it.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html

At least the families can grieve in peace.

I've been working all day and am trying to make sense of these recent developments. So, what I understand is that the WBC (Fred Phelps' cult) was planning to protest the funeral of murdered Amish children in PA because they do not like PA Gov Rendell's actions to prevent their previous protests of Iraq by making a scene at soldier's funerals. Do I have that right? What a bunch of insensitive, hateful idiots!

 

[ljwf22]

I've been working all day and am trying to make sense of these recent developments. So, what I understand is that the WBC (Fred Phelps' cult) was planning to protest the funeral of murdered Amish children in PA because they do not like PA Gov Rendell's actions to prevent their previous protests of Iraq by making a scene at soldier's funerals. Do I have that right? What a bunch of insensitive, hateful idiots!

Yes, but they called it off. They 'traded' the protest for airtime on Mike Gallagher's show. I do not know who Mike Gallagher is though. :waitasec:

 

[Sherlockmom]

>Help me out here, BG. My brain cells aren't working.

I am familiar with this man and his "ministry", but why in the world would be be protesting the Amish?<


He's not protesting the Amish he's protesting the governor whom he believes has said bad things about him. The recently passed funeral protesting law is one of his beefs. He has stated that the Amish killings were revenge from God against the governor not the children.

I know. The reasoning of an insane person is kind of hard to follow.

I personally believe there is more to this group than the homosexuality issue. I was doing a bit more research on them and the leader used to be involved in civil rights issues. years ago a relative of theirs, a child, was approached in a park by a creepy guy. They appealed to the local government and nothing was done according to them so thus this is their excuse for their behavior.

I think eventually the real group and $$$$ behind these people will be revealed as well as their true agenda.

While they may say they are Baptists, they aren't really. No Baptist would think this type of behavior was okay. One of my daughters is a Baptist and she would never think this was appropriate. As much as she believes that homosexuality is wrong I have never heard her say a mean or hateful thing about them or anyone else for that matter. These people are hiding behind a religion for some reason or other. Either because they are a cult than wants to put some sort of mainstream acceptability on themselves or to discredit religious groups in general.

They do these types of stunts for attention so the less attention and press they receive the better.

 

[Sherlockmom]

>So, what I understand is that the WBC (Fred Phelps' cult) was planning to protest the funeral of murdered Amish children in PA because they do not like PA Gov Rendell's actions to prevent their previous protests of Iraq by making a scene at soldier's funerals. Do I have that right? What a bunch of insensitive, hateful idiots<


They don't protest against Iraq just as they aren't protesting against the Amish. They believe that the deaths of soldiers are a revenge from God for our society accepting homosexuality. They believe the death of the miners was for the same reason and they had no beef with miners or mining. They believe that the death of these children were for similar reasons and also God's revenge against the governor who has helped pass a law limiting their protests.

Like I said. Insane people don't waste too many brain cells trying to figure out their reasoning. There is no logic to it.

I wonder what kind of funeral Mr. Phelps is planning for himself? I'd love to attend.

 

[Sherlockmom]

> I do not know who Mike Gallagher is though<


A conservative radio talk show host.

 

[luthersmama]

It seems pretty obvious to me that WBC targeted these funerals because they knew it would cause a huge stink and draw more attention to themselves. They aren't protesting the Amish, the governor or anything else.

They are just grabbing any available forum to spread their hate.

I suggest that we not visit their site or talk about them at all anymore. To do so is to reward them for their devious publicity stunt.

 

[kcksum]

>So, what I understand is that the WBC (Fred Phelps' cult) was planning to protest the funeral of murdered Amish children in PA because they do not like PA Gov Rendell's actions to prevent their previous protests of Iraq by making a scene at soldier's funerals. Do I have that right? What a bunch of insensitive, hateful idiots<


They don't protest against Iraq just as they aren't protesting against the Amish. They believe that the deaths of soldiers are a revenge from God for our society accepting homosexuality. They believe the death of the miners was for the same reason and they had no beef with miners or mining. They believe that the death of these children were for similar reasons and also God's revenge against the governor who has helped pass a law limiting their protests.

Like I said. Insane people don't waste too many brain cells trying to figure out their reasoning. There is no logic to it.

I wonder what kind of funeral Mr. Phelps is planning for himself? I'd love to attend.

the daughter of this crazy minister is quoted by fox as saying " we're hearing all this crying about the poor little amish girls..blah blah blah...they brought this on themselves."
she is a freak who should read her bible before she spouts her mouth off. Anyone who is a baptist should be hammering the baptist convention to make sure these people are not charter members and to make sure they receive nothing from the national convention. The president of the baptist convention needs to come out and make a very public statement that these people do not represent the baptist faith in any way. I have been dumbfounded by the collective silence of the baptist church in this matter.
I am not a baptist, but I guaruntee that if these people called themselves catholic or presbyterian or methodist someone somewhere would be screaming "no way, these people don't represent us!"
The cry of millions of baptists in this united states of america should be loud and deafening.

 

[Shadow205]

It seems pretty obvious to me that WBC targeted these funerals because they knew it would cause a huge stink and draw more attention to themselves. They aren't protesting the Amish, the governor or anything else.

They are just grabbing any available forum to spread their hate.

I suggest that we not visit their site or talk about them at all anymore. To do so is to reward them for their devious publicity stunt.

I agree with what you are saying about not giving them any attention however those on here who are not familiar with WBC need to know. Actually there was a thread somewhere here on WS's dealing with that bunch of nuts. I found this in answer to someones question about their affiliation with the Baptist.

Its members identify themselves as Baptists; the church is an independent Baptist church not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations. The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles, though it has been accused by others of Hyper-Calvinism[3].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

 

[southcitymom]

Thanks, y'all. What a nutjob. And it's just so cruel to capitalize on people's pain to promotoe your own warped agenda.

 

[Indy Gal]

They came to our home town after a soldier died and the response to shut them out was amazing. Our fire and ladder trucks came and tied a huge (I mean huge)american flag between the two ladders. they then promptly lowered the flag down in front of the protesters who were given a designated place to stand. The family filing into church never saw or heard these freaks, all they saw were the faces of every fire fighter, ems worker, and police officer in single file with that huge american flag behind them. It was awesome. I can't for the life of me understand why this church has any members if their into this, and how they have stayed in good standing with the Baptist convention is beyond me.

those sobs tried to do it here too but like you we had the fire dept with the huge flag as he was a volenteer...he was also in some motorcycle club and those sobs left quick.....what is wrong with the world today when people like this live in it....my friend spent ALOT of time in iraq all he deserved was respect luckly no one knew until recently that they were even there