Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist to protest at funeral for child victim of Arizona shooting
From the Canadian Press story I just read it on:
PHOENIX - Arizona legislators planned to consider emergency legislation Tuesday to head off picketing by a fundamentalist church at the funeral service for a 9-year-old girl who was among six people killed during Saturday’s shooting in Tucson.
The proposed law would prohibit protests at or near funeral sites.
It would take effect immediately if passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer.
Legislative aides said the bill appeared to be on track for quick passage, and Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman said the Republican governor would sign the bill if it reaches her desk.
The Westboro Baptist Church said Monday it plans to picket Thursday’s funeral for Christina Taylor Green because “God sent the shooter to deal with idolatrous America.”
The fundamentalist church has picketed many military funerals to draw attention to its view that the deaths are God’s punishment for the nation’s tolerance of homosexuality.
Lawmakers denounced the church’s plan to picket the funeral of a child.
“This is just horrific that … people have to deal with this. We shouldn’t have to do this in time of great pain for our state,” said Phoenix Sen. Kyrsten Sinema.
The girl was the youngest of the six people killed during the shooting at an event held by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was among 14 people injured. Giffords was shot in the head and critically wounded.
Numerous states have passed laws restricting protests at funerals after members of the Kansas church began protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I usually don’t react so strongly, but:
F—- you Fred Phelps. I know you’re known for stunts like this but this is too much. I don’t think God would be pleased. Let the poor kid rest in peace.