Federal judge OK's Mo. law aimed at Westboro Baptist Church

Locutus

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Jun 18, 2007
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A federal judge has upheld a Missouri law requiring protesters to stay at least a football-field length away from funeral sites, beginning an hour before they start until an hour after the services end.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr. caps a nearly eight-year legal fight over Missouri's funeral protest restrictions that were prompted after members of a Kansas church opposed to homosexuality protested at the funeral of a Missouri solider who had been killed in Iraq.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said the law is now in effect.

"No parent who has lost a child should be confronted by the hate and intolerance of strangers, and today's ruling means parents and other loved ones will have a protective boundary from protesters," Koster said Tuesday in a written statement.

Gaitan's ruling was dated Monday.



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Federal judge OK's Mo. law aimed at Westboro Baptist Church - CBS News
 

tay

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A federal appeals court has upheld a state law restricting picketing at funerals, ruling that mourners have a right to grieve privately “in a respectful environment … free from unwanted public exploitation.”

The law was enacted in response to picketing of military funerals by the controversial Westboro Baptist Church.

The law bans protests within 500 feet of a funeral service from one hour before the rites begin to two hours afterward.

The 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that it wasn’t unreasonable to limit the time and location of picketing because of “vulnerable physical and emotional conditions” of funeral mourners.

Church members have vowed to appeal the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Following Smith Camp’s ruling last year, Margie Phelps, a church member and the attorney who filed the church’s lawsuit, said an appeal was needed so that the high court can “put some restraints on out-of-control legislators who think they can silence words they swore to protect.”

The lawsuit stemmed from protests at services in October 2011 for a highly decorated Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device.

FULL story: http://www.omaha.com/news/nebraska/federal-appeals-court-upholds-funeral-picketing-law-westboro-baptist-church/article_440ccc84-7eb5-11e7-9265-ffb431efffaf.html
 

Jinentonix

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Sep 6, 2015
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I think it'd be hilarious if people from all over the US drove their cars to WBC, surrounded it when church was in service and just started leaning on their horns.
 

Curious Cdn

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Feb 22, 2015
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I think it'd be hilarious if people from all over the US drove their cars to WBC, surrounded it when church was in service and just started leaning on their horns.

The pastor would say that the Devil is just outside the door then he'd roll his eyes up into his head and start speaking in tongues.

Never miss a good theatrical cue.
 

Dixie Cup

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Sep 16, 2006
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How awful! I mean, seriously? I didn't realize this was happening. And they call themselves "Christians?" OMG, hardly.


Guess someone should find out when one of them dies and then arrange for a picket their funeral - see how they like it!!


Don't care how anyone dies, no one deserves this disrespect and that's what it is - completely disrespectful. There are other ways to voice your opinion and this isn't one of them.


In-fricken real!!