64-year-old former Marine and Vietnam veteran says why he 'spilled' drink on Westboro protester. Is that something you would do?

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:15:36 -0400

When the 64-year-old former Marine and Vietnam veteran saw one of the Westboro protesters dragging and stepping on the American flag, Pierce said something inside of him "snapped."

"It was not my intention to cause a problem," Pierce told The News Journal. "However, when I saw the young lady walking across the highway, dragging our flag under her feet, I lost my temper and the only way that I could demonstrate that is spill my coffee on them."

http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2015/06/09/man-explains-spilled-drink-westboro-protester/28728343/

Richard Pierce says why he 'spilled' drink on Westboro Baptist Church protester

Former Marine says he 'snapped' when he saw protester stepping on American flag

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jun 10 at 2015 9:21 AM

CPO Joseph Grant — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:21:34 -0400

I would. I don't blame him at all. Too many good men and women died fighting for what that flag symbolizes.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 10 at 2015 9:39 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:39:07 -0400

I think we should make Westboro Baptist Church toilet paper and distribute it to local vets and businesses and simply let people use it for what it's intended for.

That will show these MFs how to protest.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 10 at 2015 9:44 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 09:44:19 -0400

Stand up guy.

Not for his actions, but for owning to why he did them, his regrets at the aftermath, and the way he expresses it.

He wasn't looking for trouble. He was actively looking to prevent it. But he made a mistake, which he admits to. He isn't trying to justify his actions, but he states exactly the events which led to them. We all get mad, we all make mistakes when we are emotional. Admitting to mistakes makes someone admirable. He doesn't even blame the WBC, which given their history is an easy target.

Shining example of what is good in America.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 10 at 2015 10:11 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 10:11:17 -0400

The most disrespectful group towards veterans I know. They disgust me. I don't blame him one bit.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 10:34 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 10:34:03 -0400

Let these people show up in my town in Kentucky and it won't just be a little coffee being spilled. Guaranteed people in my town will show them why those stripes are red in the first place.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Jun 10 at 2015 11:00 AM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:00:42 -0400

No I recon being it was a bitch I would have chugged my coffee and just picked her up so old glory wouldn't touch the ground and wrapped old glory around my wrists a couple of times to ensure that she was properly put to proper rest with a good BSA troop that does that sort of thing and jerked old glory from the bitches clutches and as she flung threw the air I would hope she released old glory to catch herself from hitting the pavement and becoming as the British might call
a bloody protester, of the type that may have spit on 64+ year old returning vets back in that page of history.... and as I sat in jail I might still have a smirk on my face

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 11:10 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:10:09 -0400

Insomuch as I agree with his thinking in defending the flag, his actions were wrong.

And insomuch as WBC members deserve the severe ass-kicking of a red-headed stepchild, no one has the right to assault another person.

Having said that, Semper Fi!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 11:13 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:13:30 -0400

Regrettably, I fear that this man's actions will serve to bring publicity to the Westboro turds - exactly what they are looking for. He may have made himself feel better, but once again Westboro is going to get publicity where talking heads will support their right to spew there filth.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 11:49 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 11:49:57 -0400

I think it was the right thing to do. I would've probably done something similar. These people give real Christians a bad name. They will pay for what they do. To me, they serve a very lower power. If he had an address, I think I'd send him a gift card to Starbucks.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 12:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:07:24 -0400

Now this Vet will be sued and cleaned out by the WBC lawyers...because in all seriousness, that's how they fund themselves.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 10 at 2015 12:59 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:59:20 -0400

I would like to hope that I would have reacted the same if I had seen the same thing.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 10 at 2015 1:08 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 13:08:05 -0400

Does anybody know if the name Westboro Baptist Church is a registered trademark? I've got a few ideas.

Response by SGT Forrest Stewart made Jun 10 at 2015 1:18 PM

SGT Forrest Stewart — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 13:18:54 -0400

I'm not so sure I would have stopped with a spilled drink...

Response by CSM Michael Lynch made Jun 10 at 2015 2:44 PM

CSM Michael Lynch — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:44:03 -0400

This goes right along with this article that came out today

Veterans Affairs flies LGBT pride flag, some not happy about I. Since all of this is protected under free speech, no wonder this crap is happening. Nothing is sacred in this nation anymore. Nothing

Response by SPC Ei McS made Jun 10 at 2015 2:51 PM

SPC Ei McS — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:51:53 -0400

I understand why he snapped! I completely understand it! I also believe that he didn't want to cause any problems!

This is speculation: If it were someone else (non-Westboro) he probably wouldn't have snapped. He might have become angry, but not snapped. Westboro-followers are so completely hateful, ignorant, and disgusting that it can so easily happen that someone with a healthy, normal mind will snap!

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 10 at 2015 3:12 PM

SSG John Erny — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 15:12:08 -0400

WBC are a bunch of ****** cowards and traitors, they deserve to get as much flack as can be thrown at them with in the bounds of the law. Disorderly conduct rap may be worth it to some to get a point across. The thing is throwing a cup of coffee in one state versus another may bring a more serious charge.

WBC for the most part is one family started by the now dead Fred Phelps, some of his family has left the group.

When they get to out of hand on the internet for some reason their website has issues. The hacker know as The Jester may know something about that; he is one of use, a veteran.
http://www.dailydot.com/news/westboro-baptist-church-hack-oklahoma/

A hacker foiled theWestboro Baptist Church's attempt to exploit thetragic tornado disasterthat occurred in Oklahoma on Monday.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2015 4:24 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 16:24:17 -0400

Why does it seem only the shitballs are protected in our society?

Response by SPC Joseph Green made Jun 12 at 2015 5:07 PM

SPC Joseph Green — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 17:07:26 -0400

I'm afraid I would have went to jail !!!!!!!!! That's just wrong....... If you don't like it here get the hell out. I'll take you to the airport myself

Response by ENS Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 7:16 PM

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:16:49 -0400

That is not something I would do. When you choose to defend the Constitution, you choose to defend these people's right to do that. You do not have to agree with it, you do not have to respect it, but you took an oath to defend it, so you canNOT hamper or prevent it. People abuse good things all the time, and the only way to prevent it is to get rid of it all together, and that's not something any of us want, I think. It's unfortunate. It's despicable, but it's a necessary evil to the good we've obtained as a country. Besides, it gives us something to rally against, which only makes us stronger in the end.

Response by SFC Boots Attaway made Jun 12 at 2015 7:18 PM

SFC Boots Attaway — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 19:18:06 -0400

Is that ALL he did? Damn they got off lucky.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 11:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 23:55:22 -0400

Need more like him to start cleaning house

Response by COL Jeff Williams made Jun 13 at 2015 1:33 AM

COL Jeff Williams — Sat, 13 Jun 2015 01:33:29 -0400

It would have been a tough call. If I had let my quick temper win, I would have dumped coffee on them. However that would have given them the attention they want. We need to ignore them