With a bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Kay Hatcher and signed into law by Democrat Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois, it is now illegal to protest within 300 ft. of a veteran's funeral in the state of Illinois. That's the length of a football field.

“Every family has a fundamental right to conduct a funeral with reverence and dignity. This law ensures that the families of those who have given their lives for our country can grieve without harassment. It is our duty to honor their sacrifice by ensuring they are remembered with the respect and solemnity", Gov. Pat Quinn said in a news release.

Every American who appreciates the sacrifices made by our veterans can be proud of this attempt to restore the deserved solemnity and dignity to the funerals of our fallen warriors.

Hopefully this law will stand congressional muster, and be upheld as a "reasonable distance", by the courts.

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/08/...217;s-funeral/

Another reason to be proud of being from Chicago....

Kay Hatcher is a fine representative of the National Federation of Republican Women. She currently serves on the board of governors of Illinois Lincoln Series. This group helps train prospective Republican women political leaders. Kay Hatcher. I salute you.

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Kay Hatcher is a fine representative of the National Federation of Republican Women. She currently serves on the board of governors of Illinois Lincoln Series. This group helps train prospective Republican women political leaders. Kay Hatcher. I salute you.

I salute her also....these people need to be stopped. I was very upset with the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year.

Maybe this one will stick

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

Yes, Obama and his crowd are from there, huh? I would be very proud.

Do I detect some cynicism in this post? This one is NOT about Obama its about standing up to some very nasty people who protest at funerals for our fallen heros.

Originally Posted by cologal

I salute her also....these people need to be stopped. I was very upset with the Supreme Court ruling earlier this year.

Maybe this one will stick

Let's hope so, Cologal. We need to write our Representatives and ask them to pass similar laws in our own states. Now is the time to press this, while the iron is hot.

Since what they are doing is political, take away their 501(3)(c) status.

Originally Posted by Figmo Bohica

Since what they are doing is political, take away their 501(3)(c) status.

That seems very logical, but I'm sure they would argue that it's a faith issue.

According to the IRS website, a 501(c)(3) organization “may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.”

Read this story for a better understanding of how the group stays within the letter of the law: http://legallyeasy.rocketlawyer.com/...tax-laws-91402

First of all, I am not sure what it accomplishes to protest at the funeral of a soldier that did nothing more than serve his country. The dead soldier cannot change a thing about what he did or why he did it. It is too bad that there are people who without compassion for the grieving family.
However, to prohibit the right to protest anything...In the United States constitution, it states 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'" Does this law go against the freedom to assemble? From what I can find out, they have been non-violent assemblies.
Isn't it just possible that certain soldiers died to protect this freedom?
On the other hand, I would not want to have to face God someday and explain why I had stood "peaceably" with such a hateful message on a sign, at the funeral of one of His children.

Originally Posted by KatzPajamas

First of all, I am not sure what it accomplishes to protest at the funeral of a soldier that did nothing more than serve his country. The dead soldier cannot change a thing about what he did or why he did it. It is too bad that there are people who without compassion for the grieving family.
However, to prohibit the right to protest anything...In the United States constitution, it states 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.'" Does this law go against the freedom to assemble? From what I can find out, they have been non-violent assemblies.
Isn't it just possible that certain soldiers died to protect this freedom?
On the other hand, I would not want to have to face God someday and explain why I had stood "peaceably" with such a hateful message on a sign, at the funeral of one of His children.

I think you are right, KatzPajamas. The US Constitution does give the Westboro Church group the right to do what they do. It isn't politically motivated, from what I've read and from conversations I've had about their agenda with people. It is totally religious based and it is their belief that the US has strayed from God's will by acceptance of gays and we are being punished with dead soldiers coming home.

Anyway, they have every right to do what they do and I'm sure soldiers and other people like you and me would understand and fight for that right to assemble and protest.

But I'd also fight and honor the right of people within a state or community the right to pass a law saying these assembles must take place a certain distance from a funeral out of respect for the families and the ceremony. I'd fight and honor the rights of parents to bury their children, a husband or wife the right to bury their spouse or children to stand peaceable at their parents graves and weep without signs calling them horrible names saying they are going straight to hell.

Let the Westboro Church take their protests to another location further from something as sacred as a funeral. Even the Nazi's had enough respect for the dead to not desecrate a cemetery.

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

It is totally religious based and it is their belief that the US has strayed from God's will by acceptance of gays and we are being punished with dead soldiers coming home.

Of course they don't explain why dead soldiers were coming home while there WERE laws on the books allowing people to discriminate against gays.

It's their invention of what they think "God's will" should be.

For a long time I've wanted to walk up to people like them (those who, among other things, actively preach for the killing of innocent people) and do a take-off on a popular Christian theme. "WWJK" - "Who Would Jesus Kill"?

When did God go on vacation and leave them in charge to decide what is right and what is wrong or who believes what?

Someone needs to remind them that the same Bible they quote also says (paraphrased) to "judge not, that you be not judged". Guess they just pick out the parts they like.

As another pointed out, all these soldiers have done is fight to preserve their rights as Americans to do their sign totin' and "preaching". How could they possibly know what those soldiers' relationship is with God?

That inbred train wreck of a family is a pathetic joke. Who takes them seriously that is NOT related by blood? I grew up Lutheran. I'm not religious now but Stevie Wonder can see these people are further away from being "christian" than satan himself. They make their living by staging slip-n-fall type accidents in businesses and then sues them. As much as they disgust me, I have to accept they have the right to free-speech if I expect to have the same right. There is a very entertaining story on the internet, from a couple weeks/months a go, that tells how one town fought back in their own way when the nut-jobs tried to protest in their town. It involves flat tires, no available tow trucks, and a community of awesome people respecting the memory of one of their fallen friends. I can't remember where this took place... Alabama... Mississippi... ??? (lol sorry)

My question is WHY are only veterans afforded this protection? Don't get me wrong, my father was a WW2 paratrooper and I have MUCH respect for those who serve our country. BUT... those nut-jobs also protest children's funerals and funerals of G/L/B/T persons. Do they not deserve to have their family's time of grief respected as well? I fail to see why one profession, no matter how dangerous or stressful, would trump another when it comes to something such as this. In WHAT case would their crazy protesting be "acceptable" to any family? I don't get it.