A law we can all agree on.
As hard as it may be to believe, there is a "church" in Topeka, Kansas that has been loudly protesting at military funerals. The Westboro Baptist Church has been staging noisy protests at family funerals for those lost in Iraq and Afghanistan, jeering the attendees and carrying "God Hates Fags" signs.
They are mocking those who would protect their right to protest. Our hearts go out to those families that have been harassed by these protesters.
There is relief though. This was sent to us by Deb Meyer just the other day.
"Military families mourning the loss of a loved one killed in the service oftheir country deserve the right to say their final goodbyes in peace.
America honors and respects our soldiers, and none more than those who die
defending freedom and our nation. Next week, Congressman Mike Rogers of
Michigan will be introducing federal legislation to protect grieving
military families by banning protestors from military funerals. This
legislation, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, will prohibit
demonstrating one hour before and one hour after the service for a fallen
solder and keep the protesters 500' from the grieving family. No family
burying a son or a daughter, a husband or wife, a brother or sister, should
be faced with the insults, verbal attacks, and intimidation that these
protestors were screaming or displaying on their signs. This common sense
legislation will help to protect military families in their most difficult
hour and is narrowly tailored to fit within the time and place restrictions
consistently upheld by the Supreme Court. Giving citizens an opportunity to
participate in the process and support the legislation, Mike Rogers launched
an online petition. The petition will allow citizens to express honor and
respect for our American soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice for the
nation, as well as support the people they love and leave behind. The
petition and comments from citizens will be presented to the House Veterans
Affairs Committee at an April 6 hearing in Washington."