# 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:** 5
**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, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/81 "2011-01-11T22:26:12Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > 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. That’s one option. The other is that they are batshit insane religious fanatics who believe they are doing God’s work. Trolls or insane? It’s 50/50 to me. Edit. Forgot a word. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/82 "2011-01-11T22:31:30Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Shirley Phelps’s oldest son Sam is illegitimate, so she is an adulterous fornicating whore who is going straight to hell. Someone SO needs to show up at their next picketing with a sign that says “God Hates Adulterous Fornicating Whores and their Bastard Seed.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/83 "2011-01-11T22:54:35Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > 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. Actually, Fred is extraordinarily violent, according to those kids of his who have managed to escape his cult. He just prefers to confine his violence to his wife and kids. > [@Whack-A-Mole](#): > > 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. Which is one reason we don’t generally let people in advanced states of grief determine social policy for the nation as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/84 "2011-01-11T23:31:58Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > 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. More probably because those brainwashed nutjobs are his children and grandchildren. He’s the one who’s brainwashed them, and (except for the few who’ve married into his family) they’ve never known anything else. And as **Lemur866** points out, a large part of his “church”'s activities are intended to ensure that they don’t ever get to know anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/85 "2011-01-11T23:42:54Z")
> [@ajb867](#): > > Karma likes to procrastinate in the case of Fred Phelps. With any luck, he will arrive at the pearly gates to find Jesus, Matthew Shepherd and all the others his group has protested telling him that he’s not welcome in Heaven. Even if this is only the illusion of his dying brain cells. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/86 "2011-01-12T00:20:04Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > With any luck, he will arrive at the pearly gates to find Jesus, Matthew Shepherd and all the others his group has protested telling him that he’s not welcome in Heaven. I’m still praying for his salvation, myself. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/87 "2011-01-12T01:53:18Z")
I can’t believe that shitbag Phelps is still able to do this. I can’t understand how our society allows it. I wish a someone from one of the funerals would beat this guy within an inch of his life, then when tried, claim that he was overcome with grief. I think Phelps is near the point that any jury would refuse to convict his assailant. Then repeat at his next attendance at a funeral. Just ranting… ---
**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 12, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/88 "2011-01-12T02:55:43Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Which is one reason we don’t generally let people in advanced states of grief determine social policy for the nation as a whole. Err…ok. Where did I suggest that? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/89 "2011-01-12T03:21:57Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > I’m still praying for his salvation, myself. I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/90 "2011-01-12T03:23:50Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I can’t believe that shitbag Phelps is still able to do this. I can’t understand how our society allows it. I wish a someone from one of the funerals would beat this guy within an inch of his life, then when tried, claim that he was overcome with grief. I think Phelps is near the point that any jury would refuse to convict his assailant. > > Then repeat at his next attendance at a funeral. > > Just ranting… Nope, sorry officer, didn’t see a thing. he must have fell down - a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/91 "2011-01-12T03:48:53Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Err…ok. > > Where did I suggest that? :dubious: Sorry, I thought you were arguing in favor of limiting the Phelps’s ability to protest in public. If you were just pointing out that families of dead children are easy to emotionally upset, then I don’t have any argument with that. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/92 "2011-01-12T11:01:56Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I can’t believe that shitbag Phelps is still able to do this. I can’t understand how our society allows it. I wish a someone from one of the funerals would beat this guy within an inch of his life, then when tried, claim that he was overcome with grief. I think Phelps is near the point that any jury would refuse to convict his assailant… I am actually mildly shocked that none of them have found themselves on the wrong end of a long range rifle shot. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/93 "2011-01-12T11:30:45Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > 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. Sometimes, some people just fall off the rail. ---
**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 12, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/94 "2011-01-12T14:33:20Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > Nope, sorry officer, didn’t see a thing. he must have fell down - a lot. Sounds like one of those murder stories where they most hated guy in town is killed, yet mysteriously no one around saw anything happen. “So Mr. Phelps was beaten, stabbed, punched, and kicked to death twelve feet from all 218 of you. Did anyone see who did it?” “Nope.” “Not me.” “I was looking over there.” “Didn’t hear a thing.” “A wizard did it.” ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Onimous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@Ann\_Onimous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Onimous)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/95 "2011-01-12T14:48:12Z")
> [@Ann\_Onimous](#): > > I’m still praying for his salvation, myself. > [@SteveG1](#): > > I’m not. Speaking as a Christian, I don’t believe the god he professes to follow is the same God I follow. Since I can’t go and counter protest or minister to him, the best I can do is pray for his soul. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/96 "2011-01-12T15:05:00Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Sounds like one of those murder stories where they most hated guy in town is killed, yet mysteriously no one around saw anything happen. > > “So Mr. Phelps was beaten, stabbed, punched, and kicked to death twelve feet from all 218 of you. Did anyone see who did it?” > “Nope.” > “Not me.” > “I was looking over there.” > “Didn’t hear a thing.” > “A wizard did it.” Not just murder fiction, either… [Ken McElroy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_McElroy) > [@](#): > > McElroy was then shot at several times and hit twice, once by a high powered rifle, and once by a .22 rimfire rifle. In all, there were 46 potential witnesses to the shooting, including Trena McElroy, who was in the truck with him when he was shot. Only Trena McElroy claimed to identify a gunman; every other witness either refused to name an assailant or claimed not to have seen who fired the fatal shots. The DA declined to press charges. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/97 "2011-01-12T15:23:22Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The Hell’s Angels hate fags, too. Birds of a feather and all that. Professional courtesy. Cite ? Not that I would be surprised but I would be relying on prejudice. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/98 "2011-01-12T16:37:12Z")
> [@Gedd](#): > > Sounds like one of those murder stories where they most hated guy in town is killed, yet mysteriously no one around saw anything happen. > > “So Mr. Phelps was beaten, stabbed, punched, and kicked to death twelve feet from all 218 of you. Did anyone see who did it?” > “Nope.” > “Not me.” > “I was looking over there.” > “Didn’t hear a thing.” > “A wizard did it.” I would not lift a finger to save him. If that makes me evil, so be 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 12, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/99 "2011-01-12T17:32:18Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Sorry, I thought you were arguing in favor of limiting the Phelps’s ability to protest in public. If you were just pointing out that families of dead children are easy to emotionally upset, then I don’t have any argument with that. I made no comment about it but being a person who is not emotionally upset (at least not like those who just lost their daughter) I see no problem keeping protesters away from a gravesite while a burial is occurring. Seems I am not the only one: > [@](#): > > Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed emergency legislation Tuesday establishing “funeral protection zones” to keep protesters away from the memorial services for the victims of Saturday’s shooting in Tucson. > > Earlier in the day, the Arizona Legislature passed the bill unanimously. > > \ > > The law will establish a 300-foot perimeter around a funeral location beginning one hour before a service until one hour after a service. > > \ > > The legislation is based on an Ohio law, which recently survived a challenge in federal court from the Westboro group. Anyone found guilty of violating the Arizona law would face misdemeanor charges. > > SOURCE: [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47418.html](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47418.html) Seems reasonable enough to me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051/100 "2011-01-12T17:39:10Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The Hell’s Angels hate fags, too. Birds of a feather and all that. Professional courtesy. Oh wait. Did you mean like \* Birds of the leather\* ? Or rather \* Bulls of the leather\* ? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-westboro-baptist-to-picket-funerals-of-arizona-shooting-victims/567051.md?page=6)