# Fred Phelps/Westboro Baptist to picket funerals of Arizona shooting victims **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 10, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051 "2011-01-10T01:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/61 "2011-01-11T02:19:21Z")
I still suspect there is some type of an inside joke going on the the Fred Phelps camp. He started his career as a very prominent civil rights attorney fighting Jim Crow laws and he isn’t dumb by any measure. The only way that could be reconciled with what we see today is either that he is trying to make people with views similar to the ones he espouses look ridiculous or if he is just a professional troll. It is very strange but there has to be a put-on somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Walmarticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Walmarticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walmarticus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/62 "2011-01-11T02:19:22Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [Story here.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/09/westboro-baptist-church-arizona_n_806319.html) > > _sigh_ I keep tellin’ ya, Fred, you keep missing the low-hanging fruit! What about the Hell’s Angels? Crimes, booze, drugs, brawling, fornication, all-around impiety even in the **name** – yep, **those** are some wretched sinners right there! Westboro Baptist needs to picket some Hell’s Angels’ funerals! Come on, Fred! Man up! You know the LORD wants you to! Trolled. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/63 "2011-01-11T15:51:56Z")
[Fred Phelps is a Con Man](http://www.kanewj.com/wbc/) says it all, I think. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/64 "2011-01-11T19:17:26Z")
If you read Fred’s screeds on the Westboro website, they’re just as nutty as those left behind by the shooter. The difference is, I guess, that Fred isn’t violent, and has managed to get a bunch of brainwashed nutjobs to agree with him. Probably because he’s couched his madness in religious terms. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/65 "2011-01-11T19:17:46Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > He started his career as a very prominent civil rights attorney fighting Jim Crow laws and he isn’t dumb by any measure. The only way that could be reconciled with what we see today is either that he is trying to make people with views similar to the ones he espouses look ridiculous or if he is just a professional troll Or maybe he really did whack out at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/66 "2011-01-11T19:32:56Z")
[Arizona lawmakers plan to block protesters within 300 feet of funerals](http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/01/11/arizona.funeral.westboro/index.html?hpt=T2) > [@](#): > > In addition to the expected legislation, some Tucson residents are planning an “angel action” – with 8- by 10-foot “angel wings” worn by participants to shield mourners from picketers. Angel actions were created by Coloradan Romaine Patterson, who was shocked to find the Topeka church and its neon signs outside the 1999 funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man beaten and left on a fence to die in Laramie, Wyoming. Love the idea ---
**Author:** ![ajb867](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@ajb867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ajb867)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/67 "2011-01-11T19:44:38Z")
Karma likes to procrastinate in the case of Fred Phelps. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/68 "2011-01-11T19:47:55Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Love the idea When they were up here a few years ago for the funeral of a young serviceman killed in Iraq, the Boston Police bagpipe band took up positions right outside the church. Whenever Phelps’s crew got audible, they’d get treated to a verse or two of “Amazing Grace”. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/69 "2011-01-11T19:53:12Z")
The trick is to spin the Phelpses’ antics so as to make all Christian fundamentalists look bad. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/70 "2011-01-11T19:54:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I am getting to where it is difficult o tell the difference between Phelps and the more prominent board liberals here. So much hate, so little intellect. Der Trihs, Fred Phelps, Senor Beef…birds of a feather. All blinded by hatred, incapable of seeing anything objectively. Whoa. Late to the party here, but seriously, Oaky, as someone who generally doesn’t find you obnoxious, I’d suggest you don’t post while you drink. Especially if you’re drinking lead paint. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/71 "2011-01-11T19:56:06Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > The trick is to spin the Phelpses’ antics so as to make all Christian fundamentalists look bad. You don’t have to spin a thing. Just publicize it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/72 "2011-01-11T20:22:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t know why people get so upset about this idiot. So he and his family are going to stand around outside a funeral with a bunch of moronic signs. Why does anybody care what they think or say? Their opinions mean less than nothing. They’re trolls. Phelps’ whole goal is to get a reaction. The best way to deal with him is to ignore him. While it may not be a big deal to you or me I am willing to bet it’d be a big deal to the parents and family and friends of the 9-year old girl who is being buried after a senseless murder. Without people who try to protect the funeral goers Phelps and clan will get as close as legally possible to be as intrusive as legally possible. I would be willing to bet if it was your little girl being buried and Phelps was in your way causing you and your wife added anguish you wouldn’t be so blasé about it. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/73 "2011-01-11T21:04:38Z")
Except, what good does all your predictable outrage over the latest antics of Westboro Baptist accomplish? There are already laws that prohibit picketing within a certain distance. There are already laws against disturbing the peace. What other actions or laws do you advocate? None? Are you headed to Arizona to counter-protest? Then what’s the point of complaining about this? There’s no point in trying to tie this group to other Christian Fundamentalists, because they deliberately have cut themselves off from mainstream loony-right snake-fondling Bible-strokers. The people in this cult can’t be helped short of a Branch Davidian style compound storming. And so the best thing is to ignore them. Not because it will make them go away, but because paying attention to them doesn’t do any good. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/74 "2011-01-11T21:20:16Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > The trick is to spin the Phelpses’ antics so as to make all Christian fundamentalists look bad. In another discussion forum that I participate in, a couple of hard-right types have actually suggested something similar… that the antics of the Phelps clan are a plant by liberals/leftists/gays or whatever that are deliberately trying to cast Christian fundamentalists in a bad light. If that’s actually the case (not that i believe it for a minute) I’d have to say they’re doing their job quite well. SS ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/75 "2011-01-11T21:30:08Z")
I don’t have a cite but I read somewhere that they were picketing her funeral because her family is Roman Catholic, which I guess is somehow right up there with gays. :dubious: Can anyone explain that to me? (Seriously, I’m curious why they don’t like them). WBC really has expanded their operation. Last July they showed up in San Diego to protest at Comic-Con. [The results were hilarious.](http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/76 "2011-01-11T21:33:12Z")
It has nothing to do with the dead person’s religion or beliefs. It’s because the funeral is going to be high profile. The picket is a deliberate troll, and the higher the profile of the funeral the bigger the troll. This is why they switched from picketing gay funerals to picketing soldier’s funerals. The gay funerals didn’t generate enough outrage. ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/77 "2011-01-11T21:39:31Z")
[pointless nitpick]It’s _Hells Angels_. Biker gangs don’t believe in apostrophes.[/pointless nitpick] ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/78 "2011-01-11T21:45:56Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > WBC really has expanded their operation. Last July they showed up in San Diego to protest at Comic-Con. [The results were hilarious.](http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/) 😃 Notice the sign in the back? \*\*"All Glory To the [Hypno-Toad"\*\*](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/member.php). 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/79 "2011-01-11T21:56:18Z")
I wonder why Fred’s clan doesn’t protest outside jail where Jared Loughner is caged? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/80 "2011-01-11T22:16:14Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I wonder why Fred’s clan doesn’t protest outside jail where Jared Loughner is caged? You really don’t understand why they don’t do this? It isn’t obvious? They don’t do it because picketing Loughner wouldn’t generate any outrage. Picketing his victims will. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051.md?page=5)