Protesters a No-Show at Funeral of Navy SEAL (Video)

Westboro Baptist Church leader Fred Phelps told a Connecticut newspaper he and his followers planned to picket the funeral of Navy SEAL Brian Bill today, but those threats turned out to be empty. Chief Petty Officer Bill was one of 30 servicemembers killed when Afghan insurgents shot down their Chinook helicopter.

Bill's hometown of Stamford, Connecticut was bracing for the unwelcome Westboro Baptist Church protesters, who claim the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the consequence of America's "acceptance" of gays and lesbians. Dr. Michael Parry, Bill's stepfather, told the Connecticut Post in response:

In related news, California's State Assembly approved a measure this week to limit the ability of groups like the Westboro Baptist Church to protest at military funerals.

Connecticut television station WTNH covered Bill's funeral, and has this report:

http://youtu.be/7kvmiGeIA9M