Protest ban

5 midwestern states are proposing bans on protests at funerals in response to the hateful Phelps-associated groups. While there are some free speech concerns that need to be put in the law, the bans are appropriate with the level of hate speech coming out of those who participate. While hate speech is a 1st amendment protected activity, what the protesters say approaches a level of inciting violence. For example, the grand-daughter of Fred Phelps, Shirley Phelps-Roper is quoted as saying the following:

These aren't private funerals; these are patriotic pep rallies. Our goal is to call America an abomination, to help the nation connect the dots. You turn this nation over to the fags and our soldiers come home in body bags.

This quote is discussing the protests of soldiers who died in Iraq (heterosexual soldiers, nonetheless). The protesters claim that because of "God's displeasure" that disasters like the war in Iraq, hurricane Katrina and the Sago mining disaster. While Republicans are quick to say anti-war protesters "hate America", there are many fewer who condemn the Phelps church protesters. While their speech and assembly are protected, their rhetoric hints that they want more than right to hate speech, that they want to incite acts of violence.