Lawmakers OK Limits On Protests At Calif. Military Funerals

August 19, 2011 8:50 AM

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas are known for their vehement anti-gay positions and for protesting at US soldiers’ funerals. (credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)

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SACRAMENTO (CBS) — Protesters at military funerals in California will have to keep their distance after a bill sponsored by a Southland lawmaker was passed in the state capitol.

In an overwhelming 72-0 vote, the Assembly approved the bill that will keep protesters at least 1,000 feet away from funerals for soldiers and other military personnel.

KNX 1070′s Kim Marriner reports the legislation will go to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature after the State Senate fixes some minor amendments.

State Senator Ted Leiu of Torrance authored the bill in response to a series of protests at military funerals by the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist church, who contend the deaths are God’s punishment for the military tolerating homosexuality.

The legal challenge ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled the group has a constitutional right to protest.

The newly-passed California rule agrees with the ruling, but adds that protesters must stay more than the length of three football fields away.

Lawmakers OK Limits On Protests At Calif. Military Funerals

Robear

While “agreeing with the ruling”, the Legislature should have made the minimum distance from funerals 3 miles instead of three football fields…
I Support Our Troops

I can’t believe anyone with any sense of American pride or any sense of compassion for others would actually protest a FUNERAL! And not just any funeral- the funeral of a brave soldier who gave his/her life for this country, a country that spits on them on a daily basis. The people who are protesting are cowards! They’re not in that uniform performing incredible duties. No, they sit on their couch and judge those that are trying to protect their country. Disgusting!

*I’ve never served in the military, I’m not an Army wife, I don’t have a family member that’s serving… I just happen to think that our brave men and women get a bad rap most of the time from people who are too ignorant and cowardly to do what they are doing.*

TT

Well I am a child of a Korean War Vet (my Dad ; my Mother also served) and a Mom to an Afghanistan War Vet – and we’re definately on the same page … God Bless You and God Bless America

supporting my brother

Maybe we should protest there protest at some of there family members funerals so they can see what it feels like.

Ron

EXCELLENT idea.

This Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas is a DISGRACE and a front for a DERANGED man to spout his hate, in the name of religion.

If all legitimate churches have NOT YET condemned this deviate for his vile actions, they NEED to now.