Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Remember that Christian rock band from the other day, the Sons of Liberty, aka You Can Run But You Can't Hide ministries? It turns out they don't just want gays thrown in prison, they want them killed. And they praise Muslims for being more godly than most Christians for agreeing with them. On their May 15th radio show, Bradlee Dean said:
"Muslims are calling for the executions of homosexuals in America. This just shows you they themselves are upholding the laws that are even in the Bible of the Judeo-Christian God, but they seem to be more moral than even the American Christians do, because these people are livid about enforcing their laws. They know homosexuality is an abomination."
And remember: These guys do assemblies in public schools.
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Comments
They're kind of like Spinal Tap except it's just their stupidity that goes to 11.
Posted by: Jeremy Shaffer | June 4, 2010 1:14 PM
The Sons of Liberty should not be confused with Sons of Liberty, a metal side project of Iced Earth guitarist Jon Shaffer (who incidentally, apparently saw that horrible "documentary" Zeitgeist: the Movie and totally lost his damn mind). Anyways, after some searching I was able to find this clip of Bradlee Dean in action, and yeah, his music sucks.
Though, now that I think about it, I can sort of understand that guy's rage. If my name was Bradlee and spelled with two e's I'd be kind of angry too.
Posted by: Imrryr | June 4, 2010 1:14 PM
Argh, that should read "Schaffer" not "Shaffer". There must be something like twenty different ways that name can be spelled.
Posted by: Imrryr | June 4, 2010 1:17 PM
"And remember: These guys do assemblies in public schools."
This needs to stop. To say the least. These guys are fucking nuts.
Posted by: King of Ireland | June 4, 2010 1:44 PM
Imrryr:
Tell me about it!
Better yet, tell my insurance company about it. I've been trying to get them to spell my name correctly for the past decade to no avail.
Posted by: Jeremy Shaffer | June 4, 2010 1:56 PM
Apparently all the publicity has struck a nerve:
http://youcanruninternational.com/news/affirming-our-stance-on-homosexuality.html
They say they don't condone execution, but they don't say what they do believe is the right punishment for gays and lesbians, if any.
Posted by: tacitus | June 4, 2010 2:56 PM
Apparently they are okay with a year in prison for sodomy since they pop up the punishment under the law in Minnesota early on in this video and say they "want the law applied:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwgp08LOrN4
Posted by: tacitus | June 4, 2010 3:06 PM
Right, they just think people who execute homosexuals are more moral. They don't condone it. In fact, they're against condones and any other form of birth control. ;)
Posted by: DaveL | June 4, 2010 3:06 PM
FWIW: The US Supreme Court overturned all sodomy laws in 2003. So, "applying the law" means exactly and precisely squat. The law is invalid. Whether or not it "remains on the books" it is unenforceable.
And, I would be ENORMOUSLY PISSED OFF if this asshat received PUBLIC funding to "do assemblies". I do believe that's a clear and unambiguous violation of the US Constitution. And even if the funding is coming from somewhere else, if attendance at the assembly is mandatory or even encouraged by the administration, I have exactly the same issues.
It's unConstitutional promotion of religion. Period.
Apply the law, indeed.
Posted by: Kevin | June 4, 2010 3:12 PM
You hate what you fear. Bradlee Dean (like most of these assholes) is a sniveling coward who lets his fear of "The Gay" run his life.
Posted by: Taz | June 4, 2010 4:24 PM
My religion demands that intolerance is intolerable and that all intolerable people must be put to death. I don't mind this if Bradlee Dean will go first. I'm willing to die for my intolerance if religious fuckwads if he's willing to die for his intolerance of me. Only seems fair.
What do you mean this is unconstitutional? Damn. Oh well, maybe I'll just start going to his concerts and carrying a sign saying I'm Bi and I served 20 years in your military. Piss off.
Posted by: Silent Service | June 4, 2010 4:46 PM
And remember: These guys do assemblies in public schools.
Not anymore they don't. Word spread after they misrepresented themselves at a number of schools a year or two ago. And with their very recent idiotic comments - their profile is even higher which will make it next to impossible for school administrators not to know what they are getting into. I'm actually glad they've reappeared on the radar - they are making the republican candidate for governor in MN look more extreme.
Posted by: tim | June 4, 2010 5:09 PM
Yeah, from their web site it does look like they spend more time complaining about being thrown out of schools than announcing bookings at public schools. They did do a Christian school a few weeks ago, but I can't help but think that their thrash rap act is a little too much for the delicate constitutions of most right-wing Christian parents.
They did keynote a local health, drugs, and safety conference last month, but I'm guessing by their thanks to the "patriots" on that organization's board, that they were booked by fellow wingnuts.
Posted by: tacitus | June 4, 2010 5:44 PM
There is no doubt in my mind that these people are just expressing what the vast majority of the religious actually think and state when in friendly company.
Most religious people are a lot closer to the ideals of Westboro Baptist then they are willing to admit.
Posted by: Owen | June 4, 2010 5:59 PM
Well...I think they deserve some props for being the first fundie Christians (that I know of) to finally admit they see eye-to-eye with fundie Muslims on something.
Posted by: TK | June 4, 2010 9:43 PM
Poor Mr. Dean, calling out for so naughty a thing! Does he have no shame? Is he looking for fame? Nevermind that, he turned into an existential threat. Why now gays should spare this straight? He who shouts "death" should hold his breath; he who draws a sword should expect to get hurt; he who calls for blood deserves nothing but to drown in mud. This Bradlee Dean, poor him!, so used to kick a stray, what if one day!, one bright, beautiful day, his luck run away? What will he do, what will he do...
Posted by: MathiasInsane | June 6, 2010 10:54 PM
Owen: one of my favorite mid 90s post punk bands, Fatima Mansions, had a hilarious song called "Popemobile to Paraguay" While the focus was on the Catholic Church's enabling of the Nazi Party (Godwin's Law, I know), they did have this little verse:
"And it's lock up the women, burn this book for me, man
Send sweeties and flowers to Teh-huh-ran
Lock up the women, burn this book for me, man
Send sweeties and flowers to my pal in Tehran
In Eye-ran"
Posted by: Bmiller | June 7, 2010 1:11 PM