Why, Stu? I can't see the link (ACCESS DENIED: villification) so what is their problm with the victims f this?

The Westboro Baptist Church goes around the country protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers and victims of shootings and other disasters with signs that proclaim that said tragedies are God's punishment on America for tolerance of homosexuality. As one might imagine, the families and communities of the dead are... not happy... about the WBC's presence at funerals. It's all quite unpleasant.

They protest pretty much anything. Find some way to read gayness into any funeral - they protest a lot of funerals for soldiers, too.

I've cooled off a bit now, but...I hate to say this, because Omaha is a friendly city with an outstanding quality of life and I would highly recommend any of you settling here. That being said, this is a gun town. We've been having a terrible run of violence in our poorer neighborhoods since the summer, and the town is shoulder-deep in military vets. And we've been hurt by this.

We're healing; I'd even go so far as to say we're doing well. But we might not be able to take this. If this protest comes off, we might need more stretchers.

Is NOTHING sacred anymore in this God-forsaken world!

I am not a particularly religious person - but I cannot help but believe that the prophesy of revelation is unfolding around us - just as John said it would ..........

Stu, I have to agree. With Offutt AFB right there, the subject of WBC is no doubt extra touchy to very many families to begin with. And Nebraska is primarily rural, and combined with a close military connection, that puts a high percentage of average, law-abiding citizens in the gun-ownership catagory. Not to mention the less pleasant sorts that seem to have found their way into Omaha recently. Nebraskans as a whole have a pretty fierce sense of community and loyalty, and I just don't see the WBC as going unmolested without police protection.

Thanks Loth and Stu for the explanation. What a nice group! I despise it when people hide behind a religion to spew out their vitriol.

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Nebraskans as a whole have a pretty fierce sense of community and loyalty, and I just don't see the WBC as going unmolested without police protection.

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Not this time, no. The last time they were in the metro protesting a soldier's funeral, their leader got arrested for "contributing to the delinquency of a minor" for having her grandchild stomp the flag.

One of the funerals is going to be just about a half-mile from Westroads, by the way.

Who in their right mind would picket a funeral? Especially for innocent people?

I find it unacceptable that any group of nutbags would picket the funeral of an innocent slain in a massacre.

Having said that, I find it unacceptable to picket the funeral of a fallen soldier.

I believe in freedom of speech, and I do not believe that this right should ever be oppressed or removed. I believe that each of us has the right to our own thoughts and beliefs, and that these should not be oppressed, repressed, or otherwise controlled.

I also believe in responsibility. I believe that rights go hand in hand with responsibilities. You have the right to your own beliefs - you have the responsibility to respect the beliefs of others. You don't have to like them, just respect the fact that they are as entitled to their views as you are to yours.

What I don't understand is why these (and other) people would scream blue murder if their rights were taken away, but they cheerfully ignore the rights of others like it's nothing. How dare they? Who the heck do they think they are?

I've read their vitriol - they claim that God doesn't love everybody. Guess what? I don't go close to even likingtheir twisted view on the world. I don't claim that my view is any better than theirs, just different. I do think though that if you can't be bothered respecting the rights of others, you shouldn't be entitled to those same rights yourself. Go find something useful to do with your time. Help out in a soup kitchen. Volunteer at a hospice. Do something to contribute to a better life for the community as a whole, rather than spew hatred across a world that has far too much already.

Hypocrisy at it's finest. Unfortunatly, these people believe that they are doing something useful. That level of stupidity is frightening. If it were their loved ones shot in cold blood, I bet they'd feel differently.

You're right Rayven, of course, but gun access laws can help prevent the more mentally/emotionally unstable from acquiring arms. Psych evals. They won't catch everyone but can make a difference.