More than 262,000 sign petition to label Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church as 'hate group'

WASHINGTON - More than a quarter-million people want a Kansas-based church -- known for its pickets at soldiers’ funerals – to be labeled a “hate group.”

An online petition on the White House website has collected 262,000+ signatures, as of Thursday morning.

The petition is asking President Obama’s administration to recognize Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group, saying the church has targeted some people.

“Their actions have been directed at many groups, including homosexuals, military, Jewish people and even other Christians. They pose a threat to the welfare and treatment of others and will not improve without some form of imposed regulation,” said the petition.

Leaders of the group also threatened to protest the funerals of the victims of the Chardon High School shooting earlier this year, prompting the community to create a human barrier along the street -- but no members of the church showed up.

What do you think about the petition? Chime in via the comment box below.

Check out the petition here: http://on.wews.com/VBPby2