polecat54

Washington (CNN) -- A Kansas church that attracted nationwide attention for its angry, anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. military members has won its appeal at the Supreme Court, an issue testing the competing constitutional rights of free speech and privacy. The justices, by an 8-1 vote, said Wednesday that members of Westboro Baptist Church had a right to promote what they call a broad-based message on public matters such as wars. The father of a fallen Marine had sued the small church, saying those protests amounted to targeted harassment and an intentional infliction of emotional distress. "Speech is powerful. It can stir people to action, move them to tears of both joy and sorrow, and -- as it did here -- inflict great pain. On the facts before us, we cannot react to that pain by punishing the speaker," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. At issue was a delicate test between the privacy rights of grieving families and the free speech rights of demonstrators, however disturbing and provocative their message. Several states have attempted to impose specific limits on when and where the church members can protest. The church, led by pastor Fred Phelps, believes God is punishing the United States for "the sin of homosexuality" through events including soldiers' deaths. Members have traveled the country shouting at grieving families at funerals and displaying such signs as "Thank God for dead soldiers," "God blew up the troops" and "AIDS cures fags." http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/3.0/mosaic/bttn_close.gif http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2010/10/07/am.seg.snyder.funeral.protest.cnn.640x360.jpg http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2010/10/07/am.seg.snyder.funeral.protest.cnn.640x360.jpg2010: Free speech vs. privacy http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/3.0/mosaic/bttn_close.gif http://www.cnn.com/video/crime/2010/10/06/bts.scotus.religion.speech.cnn.640x360.jpg http://www.cnn.com/video/crime/2010/10/06/bts.scotus.religion.speech.cnn.640x360.jpg2010: Church says arguments went well http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/3.0/mosaic/bttn_close.gif http://www.cnn.com/video/bestoftv/2010/12/07/exp.nr.westboro.church.demo.cnn.640x360.jpg http://www.cnn.com/video/bestoftv/2010/12/07/exp.nr.westboro.church.demo.cnn.640x360.jpg2010: Vet accused of stalking church http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/3.0/mosaic/bttn_close.gif http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2008/03/31/ramos.ks.phelps.protest.wibw.576x324.jpg http://www.cnn.com/video/us/2008/03/31/ramos.ks.phelps.protest.wibw.576x324.jpg2008: Protesting Fred Phelps RELATED TOPICS Westboro Baptist Church Fred Phelps U.S. Supreme Court Westboro members had appeared outside the 2006 funeral for Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Maryland, outside Baltimore. Snyder's family sued the church in 2007, alleging invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy. A jury awarded the family $2.9 million in compensatory damages plus $8 million in punitive damages, which were later reduced to $5 million. The church appealed the case in 2008 to a federal appeals court, which reversed the judgments a year later, siding with the church's allegations that its First Amendment rights were violated. Albert Snyder, Matthew's father, said his son was not gay and the protesters should not have been at the funeral. "I was just shocked that any individual could do this to another human being," Snyder told CNN. "I mean, it was inhuman." Church members say their broader message was aimed at the unspecified actions of the military and those who serve in it. They believe U.S. soldiers deserve to die because they fight for a country that tolerates homosexuality. Roberts in his opinion noted the Snyder family was not a "captive audience" to the protests that were conducted several hundred yards away. "Westboro stayed well away from the memorial service," wrote Roberts. "Snyder could see no more than the tops of the signs when driving to the funeral. And there is no indication that the picketing itself in any way interfered with the funeral itself." Based on that the court concluded Snyder could not collect damages from Westboro. But the chief justice showed little sympathy for the message Westboro promotes. "Westboro believes that America is morally flawed; many Americans might feel the same about Westboro. Westboro's funeral picketing is certainly hurtful and its contribution to public discourse may be negligible," he said. However, "As a nation we have chosen a different course -- to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate." The ruling was a narrow one, dealing with the specific, unusual facts of this appeal. Such vocal protests at military funerals are almost entirely confined to this one small group. Roberts said on the free speech question, it was enough to rely on "limited principles that sweep no more broadly than the appropriate context of the instant case." Only Justice Samuel Alito dissented. He said the church's "outrageous conduct caused petitioner great injury, and the court now compounds that injury by depriving petitioner of a judgment that acknowledges the wrong he suffered," he said. "In order to have a society in which public issues can be openly and vigorously debated, it is not necessary to allow the brutalization of innocent victims like petitioner." The Supreme Court has never addressed the specific issue of laws designed to protect the "sanctity and dignity of memorial and funeral services," as well as the privacy of family and friends of the deceased. But the high court has recognized the state's interest in protecting people from unwanted protests or communications while in their homes. The justices were being asked to address how far states and private entities like cemeteries and churches can go to justify picket-free zones and the use of "floating buffers" to silence or restrict the speech or movements of demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights in a funeral setting. A majority of states across the nation have responded to the protests with varying levels of control over the Westboro church protesters. In Wednesday's case, 48 states and dozens of members of Congress filed an amicus brief in support of the Snyders. John Ellsworth, chairman of Military Families United, said that military protects the First Amendment rights that members of Westboro use to protest. "Gold Star families deserve the respect of a grateful nation, not hate from a group who chooses to demonstrate during the funeral of their loved one," he said. "My family has been on the receiving end of their hate and I assure all Gold Star families, this group is an anomaly and your sacrifice does not go without notice." Church members told the court they have a duty to protest and picket at certain events, including funerals, to promote their religious message: "That God's promise of love and heaven for those who obey him in this life is counterbalanced by God's wrath and hell for those who do not obey him." The congregation is made up mostly of Fred Phelps and his family. The pastor has 13 children, and at least 54 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He described himself as an "old-time" gospel preacher in a CNN interview in 2006, saying, "You can't preach the Bible without preaching the hatred of God." Church members have participated in several hundred protests across the country. In 2009, the high court blocked Missouri's effort to enforce a specific law aimed at the Westboro church. Phelps, daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper and other church members had protested near the August 2005 funeral of a soldier in St. Joseph, Missouri. State lawmakers later passed the "Spc. Edward Lee Myers Law," criminalizing picketing "in front of or about" a funeral location or procession. The case decided Wednesday is Snyder v. Phelps (09-751).

playing with my grand :mytruck1:children

"JUST CHECKING IN" A minister passing through his church In the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar And see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, A man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he saw The man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kinda shabby And his coat was worn and frayed, The man knelt, he bowed his head, Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, Each noon time came this chap, Each time he knelt just for a moment, A lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister's suspicions grew, With robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him, 'What are you doing here?' The old man said, he worked down the road. Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. 'I stay only moments, see, Because the factory is so far away; As I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kinda what I say: 'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.' The minister feeling foolish, Told Jim, that was fine. He told the man he was welcome To come and pray just anytime Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.' He hurried to the door. The minister knelt at the altar, He'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love, And met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart, He repeated old Jim's prayer: 'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY.' Past noon one day, the minister noticed That old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim, He began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him, Learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried, But he'd given them a thrill. The week that Jim was with them, Brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious. Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understand Why Jim was so glad, When no flowers, calls or cards came, Not a visitor he had. The minister stayed by his bed, He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared. He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spoke Up and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, That he's in here all the while Everyday at noon He's here, A dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, Leans over and says to me: 'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.' If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart May God hold you in the palm of His hand And Angels watch over you. Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. If you aren't ashamed. Jesus said, ' If you are ashamed of me,' I will be ashamed Of you before my Father.' So this is me ... "Just Checking In"

I ask him about making for members and he said he could and yes they are hand made he will put about anything on them that is within reason my son he done a train flask and the pastor a cardinal if you have a request and a jpeg of the request I will see if he can do it I got a price of one like mine for $60.00 including shiping to your address. He lives in Ranoke Texas and used to drive a Venture It takes about 3 weeks for him to turn one out with the drying of the leather and staining after cuting the image:confused24: He lives in Ronoke Texas which is right outside Dallas about 15 minutes from the speed way and is a member of the Booze Fighters Club which he made flask for the whole club memers of his chapter If interested let me know

Filled it with genuine moonshine:2133: He lost his Job so now he is working on his leathercraft more also got a holster for my 44mag

:stirthepot:My brother inlaw in Texas came up for the 4th and suprised me with this I though it came out well only problem it was empty but only for a short time [ATTACH]47873[/ATTACH]

Boomer the Navy model is a girl in every port At least that is what my sea daddy told me:thumbsup:

Looks like Alex will be heading that way:thumbdown:

Goy mine today thanks Larry:bowdown:

Got the whine after I basket chage out thats why I call:mo money: her the B--ch

I am 56 and the other half is 55 but I didn't tell it ok?

Barrons is running a 25% off sale plus upgraded shiping on there equipment all you need to do to aquire the discount is type holiday 25 in the promo code box i just picked up the 11/2 inch riser yesterday Merry Christmas Polecat:stirthepot:

Im 56 lynn is 55 4 children 2boys 2 girls 3 cockers and 5 grand children 3 girls 2 boys 07 bike this time around getting to need the confort in these old bones:pushups:

I sent you my funds thru paypal. Look forward to getting them & mounting them. Thanks Bill

Money sent sorry for the delay thanks Bill:doh: