How Free Should Speech Be?

Today the Supreme Court will begin to discuss the Constitutional rights of protesters that make protests at funerals.
Here is an excerpt from the CNN coverage on it:

" In 2006, members of the Westboro Baptist Church protested 300 feet from a funeral for Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder in Westminster, Maryland, carrying signs reading 'God hates you' and 'Thank God for dead soldiers.' Among the teachings of the Topeka, Kansas-based fundamentalist church founded by pastor Fred Phelps is the belief that the deaths of U.S. soldiers is God's punishment for 'the sin of homosexuality.' "

The family sued, and was later granted almost $8 Million dollars for compensatory and punitive damages. The "church" involved has done this before, and since the incident with Matthew Snyder, including the funeral of Matthew Shepard who was a victim of anti-gay hate crimes and beatings.

While the Supreme Court will debate this issue for months, the question must be asked: How free should speech be? While it is protected by the Constitution, should it be treated with discretion? Do grieving families deserve the right to grieve privately? Does restricting the freedom of speech to appropriate locations and times infringe upon our Constitutional rights? As a political science major I have also believed that no matter what, freedom of speech and expression should not be staunched. However, it is cases like these that test that belief. How can we allow people who spread not only propaganda, but outright HATE to have the ability to do so?
Freedom of speech is well and good as long as it does not cause physical harm, or death on another individual. Spreading hate and messages like this "church" does is not an expression of opinion-- it is nothing more than just homophobia and hatred.