Supreme Court, Westboro and the PGR

[bobhamlin]

I participated in a PGR mission for Lt. Brendan Looney yesterday. He died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The Westboro scum were standing outside Arlington National Cemetary to protest during the procession from the church.

I was in the part of the escort that peeled off to position ourselves and running bikes between the signs and sounds of these hateful b@stards and the family and the rest of the procession as they passed.

http://www.wusa9.com/video/default.a...1/625343625001

This week, the Supreme Court will deal with the issue of free speech and the intrusion into a particularly private time for a grieving family. Regardless of the decision, legal or not, WBC is scum, earning all the disgust I can generate.

Thank you, PGR, for helping me to keep foremost in mind that we are there to honor the fallen's service and to protect their families and others during a solemn time. On the several missions that have involved the protesters, it was that discipline that prevented me from directly confronting the idiots with no other purpose that to make sure the scum understand how much I despise their actions. PGR gives me the way to handle myself.

[Loafer]

Bob, representatives of that group have been here in Vermont several times. I know what you mean. Totally disgusting...

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Those people should have their a$$es put in jail. They just have no respect. My thanks to you Bob for what you do.

[brote]

Bob,
I do a few PGR missions here in Georgia and haven't met up with these jerks. I hope I have the composure your group demonstrated. I'm not sure I could have. Keep up the support for those
who are the true hero's and someday the Westboro folks will answer to the "Big Boss"

[NRiderUSA]

Amazing world we have evolved into. No respect for anything or anyone.

[cactusjack]

This is a first amendment argument, not a religious or family privacy argument. Personally, I think the Westboro "church" and its members are scum of the earth for these asinine protests. However, rights guaranteed in the constitution apply to us all equally. I'd be surprised if the SCOTUS rules in Westboro's favor. The right to free speech is the right to free speech, whether anyone agrees or disagrees with what is being said.

[dougster]

You are right, Scott. As a pastor, I am absolutely disgusted with guys (and churches) like Westboro (and every other "church" that distorts what God says in His Word). They will indeed answer to the One they claim to represent (and they do NOT represent Him!). But, as a legal question, they do have rights to free speech in public areas (such as cemeteries). The best we can do is to do what the PGRs do: Help prevent the intrusiveness of Westboro into the grief of families. Better that we take the high road, than to descend to their level.

[glwilson]

I am almost positive I read somewhere that they sue anyone that touches them (in other words... anyone that gets in their face and shoves them or beats the livin' cr@p out of them).

So... it would be wise to control one's actions with this group or else find yourself in court defending yourself... just saying. ;)

HOWEVER... if anyone wants to beat the cr@p out of them and wants some help... just call me. I'll be right there... lawsuit or not. ;)

[Sin City Stan]

Originally Posted by glwilson

I am almost positive I read somewhere that they sue anyone that touches them (in other words... anyone that gets in their face and shoves them or beats the livin' cr@p out of them).

So... it would be wise to control one's actions with this group or else find yourself in court defending yourself... just saying. ;)

HOWEVER... if anyone wants to beat the cr@p out of them and wants some help... just call me. I'll be right there... lawsuit or not. ;)

I'm with Greg. We could dress as 1%ers. Do the deed and then scatter in four different directions. ;)

I realize they have a 1st amendment right to be rude and disrespectful and so do the Muslims in NY with the ground zero controversy. But 1st. amendment rights should be tempered with self restraint.

[dabull]

Not in the south...buncha rednecks down here would kick some ass....regardless of the right to speech....right is right, wrong is wrong...rednecks and a 6 pack take care of that ;)


<<<Sa-----LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE PGRs>>>

[Yellow Jacket]

I've been on quite a few of the PGR missions here in Georgia. Thankfully, so far there have been none of the "protesters" at any of them. If they want to protest, they have that right. But choosing to do their protesting at the funerals of those who have died defending our country and way of life is totally despicable. Unbelievably, they actually think they are doing "Gods work!" May God have mercy on their souls because I can't believe that they really know the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

[abbo]

:'( I find their actions totally sickening. They were at a funeral i attended this summer as a PGR member and I was sickened by their signs and actions. Many of the PGR riders expressed their feelings among themselves, but because they were there out of respect for a fallen hero, took no action. The problem this country has is we give everybody freedom to do whatever but attach no responsibility to their actions. Back in my day those kind of demonstrations would get your ass kicked, and rightfully so. :( What the hell happened to respect and common sense???

[wompus]

I've been a PG member for over 5 years. So far those "Christians" haven't been to any runs here in Georgia. For a long time we were told of how they reacted and were told to stand down if they were to show up. I don't believe they have been here in the south as of yet... fear of red necks can change your attitude real fast! ;)
It has amazed me the way some of the people attending these funerals react to us being there. Let's face it, some of us look like .. biker trash! ::)
We have had arguments as to who were in charge, who was leading , and who rode what.
I'm a VN combat vet and I'm there for the soldier, not for "look at me and the bike I'm riding!"(you know... those who ride HD's)

There is no way the group I ride with would let these clowns be a problem... before or after the services....

.

[dougster]

Bob, I totally agree with you. I don't see how they could be, either. 1 John would seem to verify that.

[audiogooroo]

If one chooses to speak for God, or actually put words in His mouth, they had better really know him. And these nut jobs sure don't seem to. The Bible says that it's His kindness that draws us to Him. I'm not seeing a lot of kindness from the WBC group.