The U.S. Senate
approved legislation Wednesday that would ban
demonstrations, such as those led by antigay pastor
Fred Phelps, that attempt to disrupt
military funerals at national cemeteries. A nearly
identical measure passed the House two weeks ago and
specifically targeted Phelps's congregation, which has
staged protests at military funerals around the country.
Members of Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka,
Kan., claim that the deaths were a sign of God's
anger at U.S. tolerance of gay people.
Senate majority leader Bill Frist said the act
"will protect the sanctity of all 122 of our national
cemeteries as shrines to their gallant dead."
The Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act
would ban 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. Violators would face up to a $100,000 fine
and up to a year in prison.
More than a dozen state legislatures are
considering similar laws to restrict protests at
nonfederal cemeteries, but the American Civil
Liberties Union has filed suit against a new Kentucky law,
saying it limits freedom of speech and expression.
(Sirius OutQ News)
