Minnesota bans funeral protests

**KaiGywer** · 05-09-06, 06:16 PM

From WCCO.com

AP) St. Paul With the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq standing behind him, Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday signed legislation making it illegal to protest within 500 feet of a funeral.

The governor and several legislators said the law strikes the right balance between free speech rights and the ability of families to mourn their loved ones.

In February, an anti-gay church group from Kansas yelled outside the funeral of a soldier in Anoka, prompting lawmakers to stiffen restrictions on such protests. Members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., have picketed soldier funerals to draw attention to their belief that U.S. war deaths are divine punishment for tolerance of gay people.

"There is no joy in creating laws to protect people from those who would purposefully inflict injury on mourners," said Merrilee Carlson, whose son, Army Sgt. Michael Carlson, was killed in Iraq last year.

Carlson, who heads a group of mothers of soldiers, thanked lawmakers and Pawlenty for coming up with legislation that will shield grieving families from additional pain.

Great news! Let's get these clowns out of our state!

FishTail · 05-09-06, 06:18 PM

Personally, I think we ought to just look the other way when the soldier's buddies set on them.

**MisterK** · 05-09-06, 06:38 PM

Of course the fucking ACLU has already come out in defense of these fucks.

**jmur5074** · 05-09-06, 07:08 PM

Just out of curiousity Kai, any idea if that includes the funeral procession??

**Andrewtx** · 05-09-06, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by LongTail

Personally, I think we ought to just look the other way when the soldier's buddies set on them.

Amen to that..

I couldn't care less about free speech when it comes to this. I'd have no problem with a constitutional amendment to protect funerals, particularly of servicemen. If about anything, I'm just glad that this bunch of nuts is small.

**NavLaw** · 05-09-06, 08:47 PM

maybe a bounty is not a bad idea.

**pbrown118** · 05-09-06, 08:54 PM

These people take for granted thier right to protest, when in fact at some time or another it was war and soldiers that made the ultimate sacrifice which allowed freedom and in turn thier ability to protest what they wanted. Whether these people agree with the war or not, they should still respect the men and women of our Armed Forces and if they dont they should respect the deceased and their families and friends....

**jmur5074** · 05-09-06, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by NavLaw

maybe a bounty is not a bad idea.

They could be like really high priced gophers

$50.00 for a pair of feet!

**TXCharlie** · 05-09-06, 11:41 PM

I wouldn't be opposed to pushing 'em in the hole before it's covered.

**Ducky** · 05-10-06, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by TXCharlie

I wouldn't be opposed to pushing 'em in the hole before it's covered.

A ditch, maybe. I know I wouldn't want one of those defects near my loved one, dead or alive.

Buried alive in a sewage pit is what those idiots deserve.

**TXCharlie** · 05-10-06, 12:19 AM

That'll work, too - Whatever it takes to shut 'em up.

**mainedawg** · 05-10-06, 12:45 AM

Thank God for people in this state. Hopefully it will roll on through all the of the USA. When they break the law on this one, let's just send out the dawgs and

**Welpe** · 05-10-06, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by mainedawg

Thank God for people in this state. Hopefully it will roll on through all the of the USA. When they break the law on this one, let's just send out the dawgs and

I'll be standing by with a sign saying "THANK GOD FOR DOGS!!!"