Bill Passes Keeping Protesters From Demonstrating At Funerals Of Arizona Shooting Victims

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by Alex Alvarez | 5:36 pm, January 11th, 2011

» 14 comments

On the heels of the Arizona shooting that left six people – including a 9-year-old girl and a U.S. District Court judge – dead comes plans for a new bill that could effectively keep protesters from demonstrating during or near funerals and other such memorial services for the deceased.

According to AZDailySun.com, legislators from both the right and the left have gathered enough votes to deem it illegal to “picket within 300 feet of any home, cemetery, funeral home or house of worship before, during or immediately after a ceremony or burial.” The final vote will take place this afternoon with the hopes that Gov. Jan Brewer will be able to sign the measure by day’s end.

Why the rush?

Well, the Westboro Baptist Church has announced its plan to picket the funerals of the six Arizona shooting victims because, apparently, God is raising the roof and dancing a festive jig now that Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is recuperating from a gunshot to the head and Judge John Roll lost his life. Or somesuch. The Church explains its mission succinctly:

Your federal judge is dead and your (fag-promoting, baby-killing, proud-sinner) Congresswoman fights for her life. God is avenging Himself on this rebellious house! WBC prays for your destruction–more shooters, more dead carcasses piling up, young, old, leader and commoner–all. Your doom is upon you!

Tasteless and drunk on attention as the Westboro Baptist Church can arguably be – and as upsetting as their intended protest may be for those mourning the victims – this proposed bill seems to tread rather close to infringing one’s right to assemble, although Arizona’s Sen. Paula Aboud, a Democrat, insists the measure won’t seek to regulate what people say, infringe upon one’s right to free speech, or bar protesters altogether, but will instead merely regulate “the time and the place in which they can do so.”

Update, the bill passed the Arizona Legislature.

Here’s video from CNN:

Arizona, Arizona shooting, Funeral Bill, Westboro Baptist Church

Ricia

And what is the penalty for disobeying? A 25 dollar fine and “don’t do it again”? The law is great, but it must have teeth!!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kathy-Kitt/628413749 Kathy Kitt

I thought that the courts had already ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Churches right to protest at funerals?
OxyCon

Trust me, there will be plenty of Tea Party patriots there to make sure that none of the grieving will even see the Phelps loons.
Grammie

Kathy Kitt said:
I thought that the courts had already ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Churches right to protest at funerals?

Yes, but withthe requirement that they obey all laws and regulations applying to a public gathering. That is why I think every community needs to put the biggest, longest sharpest teeth in their regulations that will pas muster with SCOTUS.
Seeing 2012 From My Window

While I find this group of people absolutely despicable, I don’t think there should be a law regulating speech. Instead, I think the good people of AZ should come out in force and surround this hateful group of people and render them silent.
coalminecanary

There is a planned counter-protest in the form of people dressed as angels with wings that block the signs so grievers can attend the funeral in peace. This was originated by a friend of Matthew Shepard’s for his funeral back when nobody cared about the Westboro Church because they were only harassing the attendees of gay funerals. It has been replicated many times with great effect. Nothing pisses those people off more than being ignored.

i guess now that this bill has passed however, maybe it won’t be necessary this time.
tjames

@2012, I completely agree. I don’t think we should ever hinder anyone’s First Amendment rights. This is the time when citizens should stand up to these Pharisees, that is what Jesus was call them, and let them have their signs and say what they want but make sure no one in the funeral hears or sees them.

If this law stands it will be a slippery slope.
Harry Flashman

These people are vile.

This is the worst of democracy, a parasitic infestation on our system. Instead of glorifying freedom of speech they drag it through the sewer of their twisted mentality. They are the hideous dregs of freedom.

Loathesome slime.
stoogedudes

Seeing 2012 From My Window said:
While I find this group of people absolutely despicable, I don’t think there should be a law regulating speech. Instead, I think the good people of AZ should come out in force and surround this hateful group of people and render them silent.

One area where we are in agreement, although there are times when I see some of what they say that I think about how much I would love if they were shipped off to some remote island surrounded by sharks, but I try not to think those thoughts. My feelings about the first amendment are stronger than bursts of anger towards people like this.

Harry, I concur. There are no words for how vile these people are. I can’t believe anyone would believe what they spew. I think it’s more for attention than anything, but it makes no difference.

Not only that, but they subject their poor children to this. If this isn’t indoctrination, I don’t know what is.

One thing is for certain. They are not Christians. No God-fearing, decent Christian would EVER subscribe to what these people preach. What’s bad is that they use the Baptist name, but every Baptist I know would love nothing more than to give them a pop in the kisser.

OxyCon said:
Trust me, there will be plenty of Tea Party patriots there to make sure that none of the grieving will even see the Phelps loons.

Non Tea Party members will be there as well.
Stratdude

Where’s a biker gang when you need one?
SmartAlec

If there was ever a good time to call in the Military, it would be to surround and protect the mourners from these jackwagons…or bring in The Rolling Thunder, Hell’s Angels, or even the WWF wrestlers…or anyone that wants to participate. 300 feet is still too close.
Grammie

Stratdude said:
Where’s a biker gang when you need one?

The “Rolling Vets”, is that their right name, show up regularly to counteract these creeps.

In fact recently an entire town, along with the motorcycle group, got there early and had the entire route clogged up, so to speak. The creeps left before the funeral stated b/c they were effectively blocked out.
CarmanK

This action is unconstitutional and it gave Westboro BC impetus to show up. When Elizabeth Edwards died, her townspeople lined the funeral path, hiding and frustrating the 5 WBC ideologues who went home. It wo uld have been a whole lot better for the community to come together to stifle WBC legitimately. It would give them some real mission in attending the funeral and protecting the family from the hatred with lots of love.
Bronco46

Thank God! They’ve dealt with these idiots. But if it was me, I’d say they shouldn’t be allowed within a quarter of a mile of any funeral. And a violation of this law would trigger the removal of this organizations tax exempt status.