What the members of the Westboro Baptist Church do at military funerals is despicable; may they be consigned to the lowest circle of hell. But as a legal matter, should they be really be treated differently from other protestors who protest at other types of events? Yes, charge them with disorderly conduct if it applies. But making such conduct a felony at military funerals and keeping it a misdemeanor at other events doesn't seem very much like equal treatment under the law. And it's disingenuous to say that the "public safety" exception, which is why disorderly conduct at an airport is a felony, should be applied here. When a law is proposed, one of the first questions that should be asked is, "Will it apply to all people equally?" If the answer is no, the law is suspect and should face much tougher scrutiny.
