State ban on protests at military funerals unconstitutional

I wonder how the judge would feel about free speech rights if he ended up forced to listen? Forced to see the signs? It is great to protect everyone's right to speak freely in this country, even people like Phelps because if someone tries to silence his voice, then we need to ask who would be next. What this does not mean is that someone else should be forced to hear any of it.

We can turn off a radio station we don't want to listen to, change the TV channel, not buy a newspaper or when we see protests, we have a choice to go another way to where we want to go. The families of fallen troops don't have the luxury. They can't just decide to not bury their family member or go someplace else. They should have the right to have their own constitutional rights protected as well. Forcing them to be victims of attack from someone else defends no ones rights.

Judge: State ban on protests at military funerals unconstitutional
By Bill Mears, CNN
August 17, 2010 7:22 a.m. EDT

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Federal judge tosses out Missouri ban on protests and picketing at military funerals
The law was passed in response to a protest by Westboro Baptist Church
The church members say they believe U.S. troop deaths are God's punishment
Washington (CNN) -- Missouri's tight restrictions on protests and picketing outside military funerals were tossed out by a federal judge Monday, over free speech concerns.

A small Kansas church had brought suit over its claimed right to loudly march outside the burials and memorial services of those killed in overseas conflicts. The state legislature had passed a law to keep members of the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church from demonstrating within 300 feet of such private services.

Church members, led by pastor Fred Phelps, believe God is punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" through events including soldiers' deaths. Members have traveled the country, shouting at grieving family members at funerals and displaying such signs as "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "God Blew Up the Troops" and "AIDS Cures Fags."
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State ban on protests at military funerals