Gun rights advocates ignore or forget the opening phrase of the Second Amendment: "A well-regulated militia ..."
Every right carries responsibilities, obligations and consequences.
They have the right to speak out.
We have the right to ignore them.
Neither has the right to suppress.
Government has the obligation to maintain peace, and separate demonstrators from opponents. Demonstrators have the obligation to accept consequences.
The Westboro Baptist Church of Oklahoma has claimed the right of free speech and intends to send demonstrators to funerals in Newtown, CT, as they have sent demonstrators to military funerals.
Police have kept church member/demonstrators as much as half a mile from funeral sites, to prevent confrontations.
In the past, motorcycle patriots have assembled to oppose the demonstrators and help protect mourners from activist slanders. And government has acted on its right and obligation to protect the rights of one side and the peace of others.
The general public, meanwhile, has the right to attend funerals, support mourners and ignore demonstrators.
Some activist small groups are skillful in manipulating media to get exposure for their radical views far out of proportion to their numbers or the rationality of their sentiments. But is ignoring them the appropriate response? That depends on whether and how much their rightful activities interfere with mine. If they are around the block or half a mile away, I can ignore them. If they insist on waving hateful signs and slogans in my face, I cannot ignore them, but I can expect government to intervene. You cannot yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater. Nor can you cite "God's judgment" at a funeral for slaughtered children.
Meanwhile, the mass media have a decision. Do they ignore the radical fringe groups, small though they be, in the hope they will go away? Or do they expose them for what they are, even if that means giving them airtime and print space?
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