[Vision2020] House bill 1168

[Tom Hansen]

One potentially possible (although fictional, for now) scenario:

Fred Phelps and his group (complete with megaphones and signs) shows up at,
and protests, the funeral of Sergeant John Jones.  After the funeral (or
possibly during) John Jones' brother, who is visibly irate about Phelps'
presence, confronts Fred Phelps and subsequently punching Phelps in the face
several times.  Phelps files criminal assault charges against John Jones'
brother, followed up with civil litigation seeking punitive damages.

Question for Sunil:  How do you believe such a case would proceed?  Who do
you feel would win in such a case?

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

--Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.

-----Original Message-----


From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]
On Behalf Of Sunil Ramalingam
Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2007 10:10 AM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] House bill 1168

The protesters are either Fred Phelps and his family or people from his 
church.  He's gone from protesting at the funerals of gays to protesting at 
troops' funerals.  The Hells Angels have shown up at some funerals to 
counter his group.

I'm sure this bill will end up in court with Phelps arguing the First 
Amendment protects his right to protest at funerals.

Sunil