I was asked this morning to highlight and to ask for your support for the pending legislation known as the Support the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act being sponsored by US Rep Mike Rogers, Michigan's 8th District, but I’m not sure I can do that. I understand the desire to have legislation like this, I for one would not want Fred Phelps to show up at my funeral or a funeral I was attending, but I'm a little concerned about this legislation.
Freedom of Speech is the cornerstone of our constitution and is the foundation of all our other rights. The 1st amendment is very clear on this matter, it states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Whenever we decide that someone's speech is not acceptable in that it deserves no protection of free speech where do we stop?
I hate Phelps and all he stands for, but I love our guarantee of Free Speech even more. The Patriot Riders are I think the best method of countering Phelps and his ilk, the passing of legislation to limit what is acceptable speech in the public forum is I believe not the method of handling it.
The legislation as written is seeking to ban protesters 1 hour prior to and 1 hour after military funerals in National Cemeteries. If that is true then by all means go for it. National Cemeteries are by law, if I’m not mistaken, federal property and the Federal Government can make any rule for the safe conduct of business on its property, however extending this protection to all funerals of a military nature while admirable, is in my opinion unconstitutional.
If Phelps and his band of hate-mongers want to stand along the road and wave signs showing how ignorant they are, let them. It will be my pleasure and my right to drown them out with Patriot Riders and my own voice. Does the family deserve to be treated as such by them? No, but life isn’t fair and, despite what the ACLU would have you believe, there is no right to not be offended.
This legislation in my opinion is not needed, what is needed is for all us, who support our troops and believe that they are honorable men and women, to stand up in defense of them and block Phelps and those like him from getting close enough to the family. We should be creating human shields of patriots that will protect and insulate the family of our heroes from their vile utterances.
Today it’s Phelps and his band...tomorrow it could be you or me. It all depends upon who is listening. If you feel strongly about this and wish to support this legislation the online petition can be found here, but I caution you, this truly might be a case of being careful for what you are wishing; you might just get it.
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