Westboro Protesters Pepper-Sprayed

Some developments in this case: there is a story in the Omaha World-Herald detailing George Vogel's defense (http://www.omaha.com/article/20100831/NEWS97/708319913#marine-veteran-haunted-by-memories), basically saying that bear-bombing the WBC was a PTSD reaction from Vietnam. The city has already dropped the most severe charge - felony assault of a police officer. Also, the whole reason Shirley Phelps-Roper was in Omaha last week was to appear in Sarpy County court stemming from her arrest in 2007 at a protest in Bellevue. Since she was already going to be here anyway, SSgt. Bock's funeral was just an opportunistic hit.

@Jamie Danger - you are absolutely right. They are just despicable and no one in their right mind would defend them. What is amazing is that they have so dispersed their hate that everyone is a target. I think in the end, that might be their undoing. While I am not advocating violence, I could definitely see something horrible happening at one of their rallies --- TO THEM!

By the way, I'd also like to add that the Westboro group does not only picket at the funerals of dead soldiers although the news has primarily focused on those protests. They also protest at charity breast cancer rides (they believe that cancer is a punishment for sin) and at catholic churches who have no history of pedophilia (because they say that Catholics are doomed by God and that the "whore" in Rev. 17:15-16 is referring to the catholic church). I encourage everyone to look at their picket schedule and just read through the notes at godhatesfags.com.

I think it's sad that we now equate free speech with hate speech. Of course we mustn't fall into the slippery slope where we use the term "hate speech" to silence obviously rational ideals but I think 99% of people agree that what the WBC is doing is different. Our government is broadly prohibited from restricting speech and I think most of us agree that this is a good thing. However there are a few recognized exceptions to these freedoms including defamation and incitement to riot-- both of which I feel WBC is guilty of. They are defaming the lives of these dead soldiers on a national scale. As for incitement to riot- here's one man who just couldn't take it. There are endless legal loopholes in fights like these but my question is why seemingly good people seem more apt to discuss the "rights" of WBC rather than the rights of the dead soldiers and their grieving loved ones? -Jamie (Proud Military Wife)

@ CountryBoy - Friend, your points are very well made. WBC has pushed the envelope more than any other group imaginable -- even that of the KKK having counter-parades during civil right events. When you go to the WBC site you see page after page of picket "events." It is beyond evil. I guess as your imply, there will come a time when someone -- maybe the father of a fallen soldier -- who amide tremendous grief will pull out a gun and shot them. I do believe that an emotional stress defense would be understandable. It is all pathetic. What kind of people do these things? When they die and realize that God is RuPaul, boy will the be shocked! Be well.

@Bill in Arlington. Dear brother, I agree with your points about constitutional rights. What makes me think as I do is the fact that we are all ready seeing people who act irrationally; based on comments from people like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Look at the fire in Murfreesboro, TN and that IDIOT in Florida who wants to burn copies of the Koran. WBC will continue to push their stupid protests and somebody, someday,will take sufficient umbrage that they respond with the 'ultimate' restraining order and there is blood in the streets.

Couldn't have happened to a better group of people ;)

@ bob - Best of luck to your son for a safe return. While I totally defend these pigs right to free speech they truly are the lowest form of scum. My brother lives in Kansas and is CIO for a large school system and conservative. He has all three of his kids in the military (two boys, one girl) and HATES WBC. God forbid one of him kids is killed and the WBC shows up at the funeral. He would spray them and not with pepper spray -- and I mean it. Eventually, they are going to push someone over the edge and get what they deserve. To picket the funerals of soldier is just unbelievable.

While I agree the WBC has a right to freedom of speech, they aretastlss in the manner and areas that they protest at. If they dont like the military, protest in front of a military base: As for the man with the mace, I'll pay for an extra large can for him to do it again. My son is heading to afganistan, I pray for his safe return, But rest assured no member of WBC will be invited! I might have to spray something too, like parking a cattle truck in front of him. Give em back some of their BS. In okla, i should not have aproblem finding cattle trucks loaded and ready to go: PS cattle driven for a while then to spray!

For everyone applauding this man... What about the fact that peaceful non-violent counter protesters were harmed as well? Is that what they deserved? Is MORE hate and MORE violence really the answer to the hate and emotional violence committed by the WBC?