Congress passes funeral protest ban

[David]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Demonstrators would be barred from disrupting military funerals at national cemeteries under legislation approved by Congress and sent to the White House.

The measure, passed by voice vote in the House Wednesday hours after the Senate passed an amended version, specifically targets a Kansas church group that has staged protests at military funerals around the country, claiming that the deaths were a sign of God's anger at U.S. tolerance of homosexuals.

The act "will protect the sanctity of all 122 of our national cemeteries as shrines to their gallant dead," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, said prior to the Senate vote.

"It's a sad but necessary measure to protect what should be recognized by all reasonable people as a solemn, private and deeply sacred occasion," he said.

Under the Senate bill, approved without objection by the House with no recorded vote, the "Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act" would bar protests within 300 feet of the entrance of a cemetery and within 150 feet of a road into the cemetery from 60 minutes before to 60 minutes after a funeral. Those violating the act would face up to a $100,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

The sponsor of the House bill, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Michigan, said he took up the issue after attending a military funeral in his home state, where mourners were greeted by "chants and taunting and some of the most vile things I have ever heard."

"Families deserve the time to bury their American heroes with dignity and in peace," Rogers said Wednesday before the House vote.

The demonstrators are led by the Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kansas, who has previously organized protests against those who died of AIDS and gay murder victim Matthew Shepard.

In an interview when the House bill passed, Phelps said Congress was "blatantly violating the First Amendment" rights to free speech in passing the bill. He said that if the bill becomes law he will continue to demonstrate but would abide by the restrictions.

Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, said the loved ones of those who die have already sacrificed for the nation and "we must allow them the right to mourn without being thrust into a political circus."

In response to the demonstrations, the Patriot Guard Riders, a motorcycle group including many veterans, has begun appearing at military funerals to pay respects to the fallen service member and protect the family from disruptions.

More than a dozen states are considering similar laws to restrict protests at nonfederal cemeteries. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against a new Kentucky law, saying it goes too far in limiting freedom of speech and expression.

[39mto39g]

Although this is a good thing, I can't see how it will hold up in court. In the United States there is freedom of movement. Cemeteries are normally on private property, the owner just has to say, get off my land. Public land cemeteries would be more difficult to win in court.
Although these idiot protesters should have there ass kicked, I can't see how they are going to loose in a appeal case to the Supreme court.
They have the right to protest, (unless they are on private land) although they may be stupid, that doesn't change there right.


Ron

[Bill Farnie]

This is all well and good for the national cemeteries but what if the burial is to take place at a families private plot?

You have good points there Ron

[b3196]

Unlike California, The law in Indiana covers the ban on protestors at the church, the route from the church to the cemetery and the cemetery. Anyone who wants to protest can have at it. They're just not gonna do it in plain view of anyone paying their respects to our fallen heroes.

Bill
Laws are different in each state. There's private property and there's private property that?s open to the public. Cemeteries
cannot ban people from entering the area. That?s where the state and Federal laws kick in on the protestors. The laws are not banning them from protesting. They're just giving them a designated area to protest in. Which is not in the area of the funeral
Bob K

[Stick]

P.C., B.S.
How 'bout some mere common sense and respect for fallen warriors and their families.
Years ago the NAACP protested the Southern Battle Flag which is hung over the Confederate cemetery in Jonesboro, Georgia, and after bunches of taxpayer dollars went to the courts and defense attorneys the flag hangs today over those who were killed in Jonesboro during the closing acts of the American Civil War in August of 1864.
The ACLU screams "free speech, freedom of expression" but when are they going to admit that they wouldn't have those rites if it wasn't for free blood being spilled on battlefields against those who would deny those rites.
How would the individual ACLU member feel if there was an organized, highly publicized and highly visual protest against one of their members who spoke out against the American way?
The Patriot Guard is a great organization that doesn?t show up unless they are invited. www.patriotguard.org

It is ashame it takes a law to stop this. Families greiving don't need these idoits adding more greif. I truly thank the Patroit Guard for what they do to protect the familes from these other idiots.

[melody1181]

Having seen the a-holes that started protesting soldiers funerals with my own eyes I am glad that they have at least taken a stand. I don't see the supreme court letting it stand......

Heaven forbid our fallen soldier's families be able to have a peaceful farewell to there loved one.

[Jerry D]

Because of the Patriot Act anyone protesting near a Federal Installation are informed they are in Violation of it and Told to move along even if they are standing in the county/state rite-a-way heading into said federal facility like an AirForce Base in Warner Robbins GA. Thats what the Secret Service told friends of mine that were there to Protest the Gov on his stance on the 56' Ga flag vote. So this new law may very well stand up to the Supreme Court with the present Judges on the Bench. The Patriot Guard Riders are doing great to preserve the solom service to our fallen soldiers here in the USA.