Free-speech limits tested in Westboro Case

[Kasz216]

Mr Khan said:

Kasz216 said:

I say no.  Emotional pain doesn't trump free speech.  Emotional pain is waaaay to nebulous to even begin to guage.

They're douches for sure but... douches have a right toe be douches... otherwise you aren't really defending rights so much as defending people you like.

I'm saying that there's no way they can possibly be held legally liable for what they said, but *how* they said it could be liable for some very light damages (given that there are statutes for being criminally obnoxious), but at insanely lower levels than we're talking about (small claims stuff)

Hate crimes laws might qualify here too, in that they are committing these misdemeanors based on discriminatory hatred.

Sounds like extreme reaches to me... also slippery slopes honestly.

Though, i never got hate crime laws anyway... is it really worse to stab someone because he's black then it is to stab someone because you don't like their shirt?