Fred Phelps Gets His Own Federal Law

He says God hates fags. But he won't be saying it anywhere near a lot of military funerals if the U.S. House has its way.

The House of Representatives has voted to restrict demonstrations at military funerals, a measure aimed at a Kansas church group that has carried its anti-gay message to the last rites for those killed in Iraq.

"We will not allow the repugnant acts of a few to define who we are as Americans," said Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer, R-Ind., before the 408-3 vote on the "Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act." Buyer spoke at a news conference joined by motorcyclists who attend military funerals to shield families from the anti-gay protesters.

Protesters, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kan., claim that U.S. military deaths in Iraq are a sign of divine punishment for America's tolerance of gays.

The ACLU is challenging a similar law passed in Kentucky, saying the law restricts freedom of speech and expression. I loathe Fred Phelps and his whole crazy "church" -- which is really nothing but his brainwashed children. But I have a hard time equating his vile protests with the "screaming fire in a crowded theater" speech restriction argument.

Of course, it was OK when Phelps was screaming "God hates fags" at real, live homosexuals.

Phelps, in a telephone interview, described Congress as "an American Taliban" that is "patently, blatantly violating the First Amendment." The nation, he said, "is rapidly reduced to having as much liberty as a frog in a snake's belly."

He said that if the bill becomes law he will continue to demonstrate but will abide by the 500-foot restriction. During the 1990s, the church group also picketed the funerals of those who died of AIDS and gay murder victim Matthew Shepard.

His group has carried signs saying "God Hates You" and "Thank God for IEDs" -- the improvised explosive devices responsible for killing many military personnel in Iraq.

Frankly, rather than passing a federal law against the creep, I wish the cops would just turn their heads for a few minutes while a few of our boys in camo should Phelps how the real Taliban would treat him.