Petition to remove Westboro's Tax Exempt Status

[BDBoop]

And the response from the White House;

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/heres-what-we-have-say-about-westboro-baptist-church

That all said, we agree that practices such as protesting at the funerals of men and women who died in service to this country and preventing their families from mourning peacefully are reprehensible-- a point that President Obama has made for years. That's why he signed a law to ensure that protesters keep an appropriate distance at military funerals. As the President has said, “The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground, and when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect.”

Moreover, one of the remarkable things about this set of petitions is that it shows just how strong the bonds that unite us can be. Together, we’re more resilient than those who would try to drive us apart.

Take, for instance, this map of all the signers of the petition "Legally recognize Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group" -- that we built with the zip codes that people chose to share with us when they signed. The darker color indicates a higher percentage of signers for that particular area's population. While support for these petitions came from all over the country, it was densely clustered in two places that have unique insight into the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church -- Kansas, the state the church calls home, and Newtown, Con

I think they handled the petitions correctly. Until churches as a whole lose their tax-free status, none should be singled out.

 

[TheOldSchool]

Hey all they're trying to do is hate gay people. On this site that's worth quite a few positive reps!

 

[jon_berzerk]

And the response from the White House;

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/heres-what-we-have-say-about-westboro-baptist-church

That all said, we agree that practices such as protesting at the funerals of men and women who died in service to this country and preventing their families from mourning peacefully are reprehensible-- a point that President Obama has made for years. That's why he signed a law to ensure that protesters keep an appropriate distance at military funerals. As the President has said, “The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground, and when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect.”

Moreover, one of the remarkable things about this set of petitions is that it shows just how strong the bonds that unite us can be. Together, we’re more resilient than those who would try to drive us apart.

Take, for instance, this map of all the signers of the petition "Legally recognize Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group" -- that we built with the zip codes that people chose to share with us when they signed. The darker color indicates a higher percentage of signers for that particular area's population. While support for these petitions came from all over the country, it was densely clustered in two places that have unique insight into the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church -- Kansas, the state the church calls home, and Newtown, Con

I think they handled the petitions correctly. Until churches as a whole lose their tax-free status, none should be singled out.

the westboro church is nothing more then an evil family of lawyers

who make a living suing others for violating their 1st amendment rights

 

[Moonglow]

Unfortunately good soldiers have to die to protect their rights.

 

[ScienceRocks]

These people are pigs.

 

[BDBoop]

Pigs in a church, with tax-exempt privileges thereof, and freedom of speech.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

And the response from the White House;

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/heres-what-we-have-say-about-westboro-baptist-church

That all said, we agree that practices such as protesting at the funerals of men and women who died in service to this country and preventing their families from mourning peacefully are reprehensible-- a point that President Obama has made for years. That's why he signed a law to ensure that protesters keep an appropriate distance at military funerals. As the President has said, “The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground, and when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect.”

Moreover, one of the remarkable things about this set of petitions is that it shows just how strong the bonds that unite us can be. Together, we’re more resilient than those who would try to drive us apart.

Take, for instance, this map of all the signers of the petition "Legally recognize Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group" -- that we built with the zip codes that people chose to share with us when they signed. The darker color indicates a higher percentage of signers for that particular area's population. While support for these petitions came from all over the country, it was densely clustered in two places that have unique insight into the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church -- Kansas, the state the church calls home, and Newtown, Con

I think they handled the petitions correctly. Until churches as a whole lose their tax-free status, none should be singled out.

Likely un-Constitutional as well, since hate speech is entitled to First Amendment protection.

 

[Stephanie]

Hey all they're trying to do is hate gay people. On this site that's worth quite a few positive reps!

and your post deserves a lot of negative reps..

hope you get them

 

[Seawytch]

Meh...nobody gave two shits about Westboro when it was just gays that were their targets.

 

[The Rabbi]

The Westies are among the least sympathetic groups out there. IN any decent dictatorship they would be lined up against the wall and shot.
But this is not a dictatorship (yet) and even people spewing crap like they do are entitled to all the protections of the Constitution. That is the beauty of our system.

 

[Sunni Man]

I totally disagree with their protesting the funerals of soldiers.

But the Westboro Baptist Church is just following Biblical scripture when it comes to homos and their perverted lifestyle. ..

 

[R.C. Christian]

I have a better idea...just burn the place down.

 

[Stephanie]

that freedom of speech is a bothersome thing to some of you isn't it...
you'd use this government to shut up anyone who hurts your fweelings...

I can't stand that church or what they stand for... but now PETITIONING the government to step on peoples rights..

scratch a liberal find a fascist

 

[The Rabbi]

Meh...nobody gave two shits about Westboro when it was just gays that were their targets.

Yeah why should anyone?

 

[rightwinger]

And the response from the White House;

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/heres-what-we-have-say-about-westboro-baptist-church

That all said, we agree that practices such as protesting at the funerals of men and women who died in service to this country and preventing their families from mourning peacefully are reprehensible-- a point that President Obama has made for years. That's why he signed a law to ensure that protesters keep an appropriate distance at military funerals. As the President has said, “The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground, and when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect.”

Moreover, one of the remarkable things about this set of petitions is that it shows just how strong the bonds that unite us can be. Together, we’re more resilient than those who would try to drive us apart.

Take, for instance, this map of all the signers of the petition "Legally recognize Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group" -- that we built with the zip codes that people chose to share with us when they signed. The darker color indicates a higher percentage of signers for that particular area's population. While support for these petitions came from all over the country, it was densely clustered in two places that have unique insight into the actions of the Westboro Baptist Church -- Kansas, the state the church calls home, and Newtown, Con

I think they handled the petitions correctly. Until churches as a whole lose their tax-free status, none should be singled out.

Agree.

As misguided as they are, I think they are sincere in their religious beliefs. They are not in it to make money. Their religious belief is based on hate, but it is still what they believe

The best course of action is the current one. Allow their church of 40-60 members continue their hate rants and ignore them

Freedom of speech is more important than this small, reprehensible group

 

[Seawytch]

Meh...nobody gave two shits about Westboro when it was just gays that were their targets.

Yeah why should anyone?

Yup...that's why they switched targets. They weren't generating enough revenue when it was just the queers they were picking on...too many like Rabbi and Katz LOVED them for it.

 

[Katzndogz]

It would be odd that they even have tax exempt status. Do they? Has that been verified? As it was pointed out, the Westboro Baptist Church is a family. The entire congregation is no more than 20 people all of a single family. If they make donations to the "church", they are giving the money to the father of the children and extended family members who make up the church. Families do not have tax exempt status.

Considering the graves of veterans hallowed ground depends on who is doing the protesting. In 1996, I went to the protest against illegal immigration at the federal building in Los Angeles. Illegals had gone over the fence to the VA cemetery across the street and were pissing on the graves with full police protection. The papers were quick to carry the story of all the anti immigrant protesters, without a single word about the grave descecration. It all depends on whether the descecrators are a favored group like illegals, or an unfavored group like Westboro.

I agree with Mike Huckabee, Churches should voluntarily give up tax exempt status. The status is now being used to muzzle churches and control what the preachers, pastors and priests say. Give up the status and they can say what they want, they can endorse political candidates if they want. Give up tax exempt status and regain their freedom of speech.

 

[Stephanie]

Meh...nobody gave two shits about Westboro when it was just gays that were their targets.

Yeah why should anyone?

Yup...that's why they switched targets. They weren't generating enough revenue when it was just the queers they were picking on...too many like Rabbi and Katz LOVED them for it.

gawd you people are such whiners..you used to be a little more sensible...but that is now gone too

 

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Dumb church. Dumb petition

 

[The Rabbi]

Meh...nobody gave two shits about Westboro when it was just gays that were their targets.

Yeah why should anyone?

Yup...that's why they switched targets. They weren't generating enough revenue when it was just the queers they were picking on...too many like Rabbi and Katz LOVED them for it.

Uh, no. It's not all about you.

btw, is it worse to agitate to punish the Westies for their views or to punish Russia for its views?