and they call this "free speech"?

Did you see the number of comments on that story? Over 17,000. I guess they get the attention they crave. I just don't see how picketing a house of God during a funeral does anything to protest homosexuality in America today. Shouldn't they be outside gay bars instead?

...yes, this is free speech according to the First Amendment, which protects all speech not openly seditious of in advocacy of criminal activity - no matter how reprehensible that speech may be. To descend to violence against these loons would merely make them victims and some sort of twisted martyrs.

Of course, others have the right to see to it that the families of the fallen have the chance to give them a properly respectful farewell:

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America?s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don?t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you?re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you?re from or what your income is; you don?t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives:

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.
2. Shield the mourning family and their friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.

http://www.patriotguard.org/

I don't mind if they want to say the group "claims" to be Christian unless the news readers have a clear understanding of what that means and have taken steps to qualify the correctness of that label. It's not the same as referring to a nationality, race, etc., where there's no real doubt. In fact, I'd have to offer the same courtesy to the use of any other religion whose extremist faction operates outside of the belief's true teachings. Let the media use the term "claiming to be..." and I'm fine with it. This nut job Westboro group is a disgrace to the term.

like it or not, the purpose of free speech is to protect speech that may be considered offensive. If it were only to protect speech that is innocuous, free speech would be worthless (as it is in some nations).

It is part of the price we pay for freedom.