Florida Funeral Protest Ban Heads to Senate Floor

This morning, we reportedon some of the issues the state's social conservatives are keeping their eye on as the 2013 session approaches. Also this morning, a bill that these same conservatives are keeping a supportive eye on has been approved by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, its final stop before heading to the full Senate floor for an up or down vote.

SB 118, filed by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, and titled Funerals, Burials, and Memorial Services, would criminalize protest activities within 500 feet of the property line of any location where a funeral, burial, or memorial service is being held, and during or within one hour before or one hour after the conducting of such services.

(The bill defines "protest activities" as "any action, including picketing, that is undertaken with the intent to interrupt or disturb a funeral, burial, or memorial service.")

Violation of the prohibition would constitute a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. (Florida law already makes it a second-degree misdemeanor to "willfully interrupt or disturb any lawful assembly.")

The bills introduction was motivated by the activities of a Kansas sect, the Westboro Baptist Church. The churchs pastor, disbarred attorney and Democratic political activist Fred Phelps, regularly stages protests at the funerals of military servicemen and other famous victims of tragedy. One of their most infamous slogans is God Hates Fags.

Check out what Florida's Catholic and Southern Baptist spokesmen have had to sayin support of the legislation.