Funeral Buffer Bill Advanced by Senate Criminal Justice Committee

Submitted by Anonymous on February 22, 2012 - 3:52pm

The Westboro Baptist Church, and anyone else who for some reason desires to protest a military funeral, would have to stand at least 500 feet away under a bill that received unanimous support Wednesday from the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

SB 632 by Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, R-Fort Myers, expands on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed a 100-foot distance between military protesters and those involved with a military funeral.

The bill sets the distance from any residence, cemetery, funeral home or house of worship from one hour before to an hour after any burial or memorial service for a military service member, emergency response worker, elected official, or minor.

A similar version of the bill, HB 31 by Rep. Pat Rooney, R-West Palm Beach, is also up for a full House vote this afternoon.

The bill is aimed at groups such as the Topeka, Kan.-based church, which has held provocative, anti-gay protests at military funerals.

Both bills would make violating the distance requirement a misdemeanor.

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