A man has been ordered to pay a fine of 1000s of dollars for having this sticker on his car: "Gay rights? The only rights gays have is the right to die." What are your thoughts? ( BTW
Though I do not agree with homosexuality, I agree with the verdict.)
by 
singwell-is off researching a lot
ANSWERS: 42
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omg thats so wrong
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who the heck made you God??? You have no right to decide who should live or die. What a disgusting and evil thing to say. Although i am not gay and i don not support homosexuality, that is, none the less, between them, their partner and God. You really need to see a doctor about your anger and inner hate. I cant believe AB hasnt deleted your question, yet!!!!*****yes, I misread the question!!!!! MY apologies!!!!!********
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I am the exact opposite. I strongly support the rights of homosexuals, but I think this verdict is a travesty. I am very much an absolutist when it comes to free speech. What the person with this sticker was saying is deeply offensive, but it is not *harmful*. It's a borderline case, because one can argue that the sentiment expressed is an incitement to violence, but I'm willing give it the benefit of the doubt. This is what rights are all about. It's easy to support the free speech rights of the majority, or the banal. Supporting the rights of the grossly offensive is difficult, but necessary. . .
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this is a perfect example of free speech. I'm surprised the ACLU hasn't stepped in, if you read the constitution lately you'd realize this guy has the right to put whatever he wants on his car, as long as it's not stepping on other peoples rights. this sticker sounds like an opinion (much like what you express on this site) which is protected under the 1st amendment to the constitution that we live by. I don't like the sticker either but it's his right.
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Attention Seekers will usse anything just to get attention whether it concerns them or not. For every action there's a equal amount of reaction. Gay and lesbians have their own problems to face..they can't escape the consequences like any other problems in the world.
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tough call as much as I find this statement crude and ignorant I do believe in free speech and to ban someone from having or fine them for having a sticker like that makes for shaky ground for cops to interpret the law. For example who decides what is tasteful and what is not? IF I am a cop and someone has a sticker that says "White power" do I have a right to fine them too if I see it as being untasteful? Where are the law codes for bumper stickers? What are they? So in essence I think as dumb as this was I don't think police have the resources to judge bumper stickers on an individual basis..I think they should all be banned..most of them are retarded anyways.
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The sticker is horribly offensive. The fact that the man is being fined for it is even more so.
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I agree with homosexuality, and disagree with the verdict. Everyone has a right to be a completely worthless jerk in their beliefs and speech.
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I think that is bigotry on the back of car. I think it's awful to assert oneself in such a manner - how passive-aggressive is that? A freakin' bumper sticker?! I am all for gay rights. I think they should get married just like the rest of us, I think they deserve to be treated with dignity. They are, in fact, human beings. I don't know about the fine - I think it's pretty steep. But it does incite violence, or at least seems to encourage it. I agree with the verdict as well. Free speech is a constitutional right, no matter how arrogant and ignorant. Maybe it's not the right verdict, now that I really think about it.
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Who lives or dies is NOT for "you" to decide. Why don't you take all that anger and hatred you have and point it in another direction and do something that will benefit instead of take away. Be angry that seniors and mothers with their children are homeless and the numbers are growing every day, then do something about it. I don't agree with homosexuality either but there are a billion other, more pressing issues on this earth that need attention. What people do in their private lives is just that private. All the anger you can muster up about that, will not change a thing and will keep you from doing something positive with your life.
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I feel that very offensive and stickers like that dont even need to be marketed. The retailer should be punhished as well.
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How would you feel if, instead of the sticker being targeted at some 'fringe group', it was targeted at whatever ethnicity/heritage/orientation you came from?
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I don't agree with the verdict. He could also have a sticker on his car saying "I am an A**hole" and I'd support his right to say that as well. All he is saying by having such a sticker is that he is a homophobe and proud of it, in which case he also is telling us he isn't very smart. Once you say out loud what you think, you're locked into it and branded with it, whatever "it" is. So, we know from this sticker the guy is a homophobe, not too bright, a loudmouth, wants attention, and has no idea that those few words on that sticker tell us volumes about who he is, what he is and how small a person he is. He got a big bang for his bucks with that sticker. Happy Wednesday! :)
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I fully support gay rights and same-sex marriage but since it's his car he has the right to express himself however he wants to on it, as long as it doesn't incite dangerous behavior. However, I could see where such a sticker could present a traffic hazard because of its potential to distract other motorists from driving safely.
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I think the car owner has every right to advertise his hatred and bigotry. However, he must take the consequences for it as well, which includes the verdict. And what is this line "I don't agree with homosexuality" that I keep seeing with this question? Are there any other inborn traits that you folks "don't agree with," like left-handedness or green eyes? What about skin color - do you "not agree" with that as well? Humans vary. Orientation is just one of the variations. No variation is "better" or "worse" than any other. And if you don't believe that orientation is inborn and unchangeable, argue it with the tens of thousands of scientists in the AMA and APA, who will disagree.
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I dont like the fact that its such a hateful remark, but I mean its his car and even though its an evil thing to say its not like he psyically hurt someone by having it on his car..what about all the people that have swastaka tatoo's on their body's those are offensive to african american people I'm sure so are we going to fine them to?
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On one hand I find a bumpersticker of this nature offensive and I am a heterosexual male. I think it just shows a lack of education and lack of respect for humans in general and this idiot got what he deserved. In this day and age, you'd think that more people would be tolerant of someone else's sexual preference even if it does not impact their own life. On the other hand, I have a problem with restricting freedom of speech. yes it is an offensive statement however, I do not agree with it's message or delivery method. I dont think the guy should be made an example of because of an offensive bumper sticker. The guy is a digusting human. Can't we just leave it at that?
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You "don't agree with homosexuality?" What exactly does that mean? That's like saying "I don't agree with blue eyes" or "I don't agree with red hair." It's an inborn trait. One can choose not to like something they don't understand, of course. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right, of course. I suppose this person had no issue with advertising to the world what a close-minded, hate-filled jerk he is. Sure, the fine seems pretty steep. But, what if the sticker was about a minority race or religion? I think people would probably want to have this man's head! Sure...he has a right to think what he wishes, but if he's going to advertise his hate for all the world to see, he's going to have to get used to the consequences of it.
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I think is is totally outrageous, that he has to pay anything, or that he got in trouble for it. I see rude stickers everyday and they dont get into any trouble. People have a right to their opinion, even if it is wrong.
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While I don't agree with what the sticker says, I don't take offense to it. He has the right to believe that and express it if he so chooses.
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So what if he says that? If he exersizes what he says, then he should be punished. We have a right of free speech, so he should not have been punished for having the sticker. However, if he started committing real crimes, then he should be punished. <getting ready for the rain of DRs>
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Let that ignorant idiot put whatever he wants on his car. Free speech and all that jazz. However I wouldn't call the cops on anyone I saw vandalizing his car either.
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I don't agree with the sticker, but if he's been fined, then that is a slippery slope against free speech.
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That's not right. Even though it is a really stupid thing to put up anywhere, you should be allowed to say it.
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That is not only blunt but offensive.
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Isn't there such thing as freedom of speech in this country? He wasn't doing anything illegal to a gay person so they can't cry hate crime. I don't agree with him or his beliefs, but he has a right to say it. I would fight it if I were him.
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I definitely don't agree with the sticker, but this country is supposed to be all about freedom of speech and he should be entitled to his opinion, not matter how closed-minded it may be.
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I think what is on the sticker is reprehensible, but people have freedom of expression, and if this person wants to put a sickening sticker on the back of their car, they have that right.
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First off I really need to know where this happened. I'll answer your question as if this happened in the USA; The verdict- I wouldn't pay it I'd go to jail first. If religious morons can force their twisted view of the world on me in the form of bumper stickers than I should be able to do the same. The sticker- While gay rights aren't as bad as the bumper sticker states THAY AINT EQUAL. PS. Why do you agree with this verdict singwell? Is freedom of speech a one way street?
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It happened in Australia and the man was charged with inciting hatred. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24393047-1248,00.html It would be helpful if questioners would provide links so answerers can get the details.
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Free speech as long as it doesnt infringe on other people's rights. you are not allowed to threaten people's lives. Don't gay and lesbians have a right to drive on a public highway without seeing bumper stickers telling them they ought to be killed? What if the sticker said "Christians have rights, the right to die"...God help the person with that on their car, because they would either be run off the road or pulled over by a police officer and arrested for disturbing the peace.
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Gay rights? The only rights gays have is the right to die - nobody can decide that, that is why murder is murder.
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Everybody dies. No rights about it. So bumper sticker is ridiculous. He is just looking for an outlet for tired old view, and because he is stupid, the sticker makes no sense.
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I think the person was asking for trouble and needs to be removed from the genepool. however if having an offencive bumpersticker is a crime then we have no freedom of speach anymore. that sticker would not fall under the "yell fire in a crowded theater" clause. no bumper sticker can disturb the peace, nor can it harm you in any way. if you find it offencive, look away.
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I think most people who are commenting on this are quite ignorant of the background of what happened. This is a link to the story in the Australian press: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24393047-2,00.html The man wasn't just a random guy, but a city councillor. He wasn't being fined for a bumper sticker, but the bumper sticker, television interviews, public declarations and a letter published on his website where he expressed the same views. He SHOULD be made an example of. An elected official should not be so offensive and show so little remorse for his actions and he is rightly sanctioned.
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I agree wit the verdict. Homophobia is like racism almost. thats like saying "blacks have no rights but to die"... GAY PEOPLE ARE HUMANS TOO..SOME people act like were ALIENS!! how could you hate somebody cause the are not what you are.. just ignorance.
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Can we also fine people for bumper stickers against christianity? paganism? libertarianism? police officers? road rage? You start censoring one thing, it leads to everything else. Too "big brother", IMO.
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thats ridiculous
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I think that is freedom of speech. It's pretty hateful though. I disagree with the verdict, in fact it pisses me off to know that this happened. It's things like this that tear away at our constitution, and no, I don't hate gays. They have as much of a right to live as I do.
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He can say what ever he likes without punishment. You dont have to like it but he has the right to say it. P.S.I do not agree with his statement
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Looks like it was deliberately offensive. I imagine this was prosecuted as a hate crime, and rightly so
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he has a right to do what he wants with his vehicle. I think it's bogus he got charged with the fine. If they do that, then they should charge everyone who puts stickers on their cars for what they believe
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