On March 3, 2006, Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder of the United States Marine Corps was killed while deployed in Iraq. He was 20 years old. During his funeral, the pseudo-Christian lunatics of Westboro Baptist Church “demonstrated,” making what must have already been the worst day in the Snyder family’s life even worse. The Westboro Baptist Church is run by the despicable Fred Phelps and his filthy spawn; they are known for, among other things, waving signs that read “Thank God for Dead Soldiers” at the funerals of American Servicemen and Servicewomen. They claim to be demonstrating on behalf of a god who is punishing the United States for tolerating homosexuality.
The Snyder family, to their infinite credit, sued for invasion of privacy and the intentional infliction of emotional distress. A jury of American Citizens, to their infinite credit, decided in favor of the Snyder family and, in what would seem to be an attempt to stop this kind of sick nonsense from happening again at a Military Funeral, awarded 8 million dollars in punitive damages to the Snyder family.
And that’s when jurisprudence kicked in. First, the punitive award was reduced to 2.1 million. The Phelps’ cult appealed the decision, and The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit reversed the decision, arguing primarily that the Phelps’ speech was protected by the First Amendment. The three judges responsible for the decision are as follows:
- Robert B. King (304-347-3533)
- Allyson K. Duncan (919-782-2554)
- Dennis W. Shedd (803-732-8250)
On Friday, to add insult to injury, this same court ordered that Albert Snyder, the father of the slain Marine, pay Westboro Baptist Church’s legal fees, an amount in excess of $16,000. Fox News Analyst and Commentator Bill O’Reilly has pledged to cover these expenses, but the Snyder family has established a legal fund to continue their legal battle, a battle they intend on taking all the way to The Supreme Court.
We here at Founding Bloggers cherish the First Amendment – indeed, we are able to operate because of it. That noted, we also recognize that one cannot yell “Mustard Gas” in a crowded theater, nor can one harass or threaten another with speech – and one certainly (perhaps especially) ought not be allowed to rub the violent death of a Soldier into the faces of the bereaved when they attempting to bury their dead. The families of our slain heroes have already sacrificed enough for this country – they ought not be asked to sacrifice further for the likes of Fred Phelps and his twisted coterie, much less be ordered to finance it. We believe that one of the best ways to protect a right is to rally against its abuse. The Westboro Baptist Church, in our opinion, abuses the First Amendment – not by their speech, but by their outrageous conduct. Nobody is calling for their grotesque website to be taken down.
The judgement was in favor of the first amendment. That’s a civil liberties victory IMO. It’s too bad about the Snyders, and the Westboro baptists are a bunch of trolls, but thank goodness the courts don’t allow us to silence the 2nd amendment just because we don’t like what’s said.
Consider what this guy did when the Westboro baptists showed up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Of_2ykZpQ
Screw the 2nd amendment!!!! Heh, heh… April Fools.
No matter what this guy did, the Westboro mob needs to know they do not have a clue when referring to God, and they should be confronted.
If I lived there, I would return the favor. I’d get some friends, make some signs, get some bull horns and go down to that church and protest the same as they did. Each time they held a meeting we would be there to drive them nuts and make them understand what it feels like. What goes around, comes around!
1) Daniel, I think you mean the First Amendment of Freedom of Speech. The 2nd is Right to Bear Arms.
2) Tom D- Agreed.
3) I would exercise my right to punch the a-holes in the mouth or…
4) I would “lose control” of my car and plow into the whole group.
I am kind of in favor of using 2nd amendment rights to express our 1st amendment rights at the Phelps’ cult meeting. They have no right to call themselves a church and the Baptists ought to be suing too.
I also believe in the 1st amendment but I do not believe in hateful, bigoted, racist, bashing of anyone, let alone at a funeral. We take the 1st way too far here. This is not what the founding fathers had in mind. The Westboro mutants are a disgrace to civilized people everywhere. I agree, we should demonstrate outside their so-called church and the snake holes they live in, 24/7, and do whatever is necessary to show the world that we do not allow this sort of cancer to spew it’s obscene message of hate without consequences. Matthew Snyder died protecting the rights of these sick S.O.B’s, who is going to protect his right to the dignity he deserves? It is time we send a signal that this sort of behavior is completely unacceptable. Where is organized religion here? why are they not condemning this?
How ironic that these scumbags win their appeal on a right that soldiers and marines died to ensure, i’m sure that never entered into their pea-sized brains! as an ex-marine they are lucky i wasn’t anywhere near there when this happened! WHAT has happened to this country!!
I think that any person who prints an image of the Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) is engaging in highly offensive conduct and, while the First Amendment is important and all, there has to be a dividing line on sensitive issues like this. So I agree that Fourth Circuit made the wrong decision here. Anyone aggrieved by such outrageous conduct should have the right to sue for punitive damages.