Bill sets distance for funerals protests

[wordsmythe]

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/0124...protests.shtml

Published Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Prompted by protests at military funerals by the Rev. Fred Phelps' anti-gay church, a senator introduced a bill Monday setting specific distances and times where people can demonstrate at such services.

"People have the right to bury their family members in peace," said Sen. Jean Schodorf. "I find it repugnant that anybody would protest the funeral of a soldier."

Schodorf, R-Wichita, said Kansas already has a law banning demonstrations at funerals, but the language is so vague that it is hard to enforce.

"I wanted to make it clear what the law would be," said Schodorf, whose bill was filed with 31 co-sponsors in a chamber where it takes 21 vote to pass a bill.

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt said he expects the measure to breeze through the Senate.

"What's got the people's attention was picketing at military funerals. It's just wrong," said Schmidt, R-Independence.

But Shirley Phelps-Roper, an attorney and a member of the Topeka church, already has said that the state faces a lawsuit if legislators enact the proposal because it would interfere with the picketers' right to "cause America to know her abominations." She has said church members have the right to be within the sight and hearing of their target audiences.

The senior Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church contend U.S. soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors homosexuals. The church isn't affiliated with a larger denomination and is made up mostly of Phelps' family members.

Phelps announced Monday that his church would protest the funerals of two West Virginia coal miners killed in a fire earlier this week. His followers also protested the memorial service for 12 miners who died earlier this month.

"You can do nothing when a sovereign God determines to visit a state or a nation and punish them in His wrath for their sins," the announcement said.

Schodorf's proposal restricts any protests or demonstrations from being closer than 300 feet from where any funeral or memorial service is conducted, and they can't be within one hour prior to or during the service and two hours after the start of the service.

While prompted by Phelps and members of his church, Schodorf said it isn't directed at that group.

"This would pertain to anybody, but yes, there were two funerals in Wichita picketed by the Phelps family," she said.

Schodorf said members of a motorcycle-riding veterans group, Patriot Guard, were at the services to shield the families from picketing by church members. Patriot Guard members also have shown up at other funerals where church members protested.

As for whether the bill violates freedom of speech, Schodorf said, "The people can protest past that point, but we feel the family should be able to bury their dead in peace."

Similar legislation is being considered by lawmakers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska after protests by Phelps followers at military funerals.

In Missouri, the St. Joseph City Council passed an ordinance last month banning protests "in front of or about any church, cemetery or funeral establishment" within one hour of the service.

[agnostic]

i hate people..

[K C Muffin]

People like Phelps always seem to get put down in the end......it's just such a shame that they inflict so much suffering on people at their lowest moment.

[notyoubob]

A few years back I was visiting my mother-in-law in Topeka and we drove by a Phelps' gang protest in front of a restaurant. Apparently, one of the waiters looked or acted gay and Old Man Phelps had to spring into action.
I asked my mother-in-law to slow down and I'd blow them a kiss, but she said they'd surround the car and things would get ugly.
Personally, I think Old Man Phelps protests too much. He might be deeply in the closet and freaks out over the possibilities.
Freedom of speech in the USA is a slippery slope. Most "reasonable" people know what's over the line, but I'm pretty wary of government setting the bar of what's acceptable.

[lurker]

I think he wacks off to Jimmy Swagart pics.

Freedom of speech in the USA is a slippery slope. Most "reasonable" people know what's over the line, but I'm pretty wary of government setting the bar of what's acceptable.

Does that apply to pr0n too?

[dustinwadams5]

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by lurker

I think he wacks off to Jimmy Swagart pics.



Does that apply to pr0n too?

Define "porn"

[notyoubob]

Re: aD doG's comment about Phelps whacking it to the Rev. Jimmy...
And the Rev. Jimmy is stuck whacking it to those long-ago memories of when he was out "humpin' the whores" while thumping the Bible.
And so it goes...