Rest in Peace Law

[komodo]

'Rest in peace' law would ban funeral protests

By Charles Sheehan
Tribune staff reporter
Published January 10, 2006, 2:58 PM CST

Fueled by revulsion over a religious group's demonstrations targeting the families and funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, legislation will be introduced in the next month that would make such protests illegal in Illinois, officials said today.

The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., has picketed scores of funerals for soldiers, including at least six in Illinois, Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn said at a downtown Chicago news conference announcing the bill.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City) would keep protesters 300 feet away from funerals and memorial services for 30 minutes before and afterward.

At least four other states are pursuing similar laws banning such protests.

Kansas already has a law in place, and today a legislative panel in Indiana endorsed a bill that would make disorderly conduct a felony if it occurs within 500 feet of funerals or memorial services.

The bill was also formed in response to a protest by members of the church who dragged U.S. flags on the ground and hurled insults at the family of Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Doyle, an Indianapolis native killed in Iraq.

The laws raise sticky constitutional questions that legal experts say are likely to reach into the highest levels of the U.S. judicial system.

Though the proposed "Let Them Rest in Peace Act" in Illinois does not mention the Westboro church by name, Quinn acknowledges protests by the followers of Pastor Fred Phelps were the catalyst.

Phelps' family has also targeted the funerals of gays, and on Sunday, the group plans to picket a memorial service for the 12 West Virginia miners who died in an accident last week.

The Westboro Baptist Church, which is made up mostly of people related to Phelps, say the U.S. is doomed because it condones homosexuality, said Shirley Phelps-Roper, Phelps' daughter and an attorney for the church.

The explosives that kill American soldiers are a manifestation of God's wrath against the country, as was the mine blast, she said.

"This is a nation of idolatry that is run rampant with adultery and fornication," Phelps-Roper said.

The church has vowed to challenge any legislation that it believes infringes on First Amendment rights protecting religion and free speech.

Battle lines over state legislation will likely be drawn on whether such laws are "content-based or content-neutral," said David Hudson L. Hudson Jr., a research attorney for the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University.

If a law is considered to be content-based, meaning that the law favors one opinion over another, it is subject to the highest form of judicial review, he said.

"Strict scrutiny leaves few survivors, and since these laws seem to be targeting a particular subject matter, they seem to be content specific," Hudson said. "The kicker is that even if something is content-based, it doesn't necessarily mean it's unconstitutional, it just means the government has to advance a government-based interest in a very narrow way."

Phelps-Roper said she would contest any law that is passed in Illinois or elsewhere that restricts the movement of the church.

That's horrible that we'd need such a law. Who the hell would protest at a funeral?

[Gomerino]

I crash funerals

[Dudesky]

They need only to look at themselves to see what's wrong with this country. Some people have nothing constructive to do with the rights & freedoms that soldiers bleed and die for in order to provide for them. 'nuff said.

[Spieluhr]

jesus. What kind of insensitive bastards protest a funeral? I'd go off the fucking edge if one of my loved ones just passed away, I was already really upset, and to top it off, some prick who doesn't give a damn about them wants to try to protest, how sensitive is that.

[Spieluhr]

Originally Posted by Dudesky

They need only to look at themselves to see what's wrong with this country. Some people have nothing constructive to do with the rights & freedoms that soldiers bleed and die for in order to provide for them. 'nuff said.

perfectly worded.

[c1apton]

I'ld stage a "mock" funeral & see how many of them I could take out on the first pass. Then see how many of those MORONs want to protest.

[Dudesky]

^^^or go to their funerals and fuck with THEM.

[Hoppy]

now. if some one showed up at my loved ones funeral and protested. well its a good thing we are already at the cemetary cause il kill them. i get pissed then people dont give respect.

[jms]

you shouldn't need such a law, what you do need is a justification. Goes something like this. If you are related to the person being burried, and someone protests the funeral it is perfectly legal for them to kick thier ass and hospitalize them. You are also immune from civil liability.

That way you are not infringing on freedom of speech on either party. And some real assholes get thier severely needed beatings.

[Cellardoor]

dear lord i dont even know how someone could do that shit like hoppy said i hate it when people dont show proper respect not to mention the fact its at AMERICAN SOLIDERS funerals. so help me god i would spend the rest of me life in jail if they showed up at any funeral i was at regardless if it was family of friend.

-Hutch-

[german speed demon]

Originally Posted by Cellardoor

so help me god i would spend the rest of me life in jail if they showed up at any funeral i was at regardless if it was family of friend.

-Hutch-

+1 FTW. very nicely put Hutch.

Even though my stint in the military was cut short, claiming that the explosions that take the lives of american soldiers is the manifestation of Gods wrath gets my blood boiling. These people are fighting, and dying, for a chance that another civilization may have a chance at democracy.

To me, it sounds as though America has found it's own breed of the Islamic fundamentalist. Jihadists say they kill to deliver Allah's wrath, and these people say God kills to deliver his wrath. Sounds to me like they should go over to Iraq for a tour or two and then ask them what they think.

Dave

AMERICAN SOLDIERS FOR THE WIN

[c1apton]

Originally Posted by Cellardoor

so help me god i would spend the rest of me life in jail if they showed up at any funeral i was at regardless if it was family of friend.

-Hutch-

Hutch,Hoppy& I have to go to one of their funerals wearing postal uniforms carrying M16s - 21 gun salute -horizontaly at them assholes

[jms]

Originally Posted by c1apton

Hutch,Hoppy& I have to go to one of their funerals wearing postal uniforms carrying M16s - 21 gun salute -horizontaly at them assholes

Ok, I think this is the third thread where you wanted to shoot something. For the love of god just shoot something and get it out of your system. although I would appreciate it if it wasn't me.

[xsperf]

that sick, it really is, even if you hate em, protest somewhere else, not at their funeral, thats just low and sick, or just leave them alone and mind your own freakin business!

[nick_318is]

Originally Posted by Gomerino

I crash funerals

I would like to get into that, maybe weddings too