I agree that harassment of grieving family members in no way constitutes free speech, and this legislation limiting protests to a two hour window before and after the service along with a three hundred feet distance requirement seems to strike the proper balance in protecting both the families as well as anything that could conceivably be viewed (or alleged) as speech.
I do have a problem with this bill though, in that it protects military funerals and not civilian ones, which both seem generally to be held in public, civilian settings (if the legislation were specific to military bases I could perhaps understand). I don't like laws that fail to protect all citizens equally.
Congress Passes Restrictions On Military Funeral Protests, Delivers Blow To Westboro Baptist Church
(▪‿▪)DoctorWhoGuru(▪‿▪)
2012/08/02 19:26:08
Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/02/veterans-...
Top Opinion
-
Philo-Publius 2012/08/02 19:56:50
Unfortunately, Justice Roberts' opinion that "...Given that Westboro's speech was at a public place on a matter of public concern, that speech is entitled to 'special protection' under the First Amendment. Such speech cannot be restricted simply because it is upsetting or arouses contempt..." would still seem to hold true.
I do have a problem with this bill though, in that it protects military funerals and not civilian ones, which both seem generally to be held in public, civilian settings (if the legislation were specific to military bases I could perhaps understand). I don't like laws that fail to protect all citizens equally.
Have a good one !