County law about protesting funerals.

BALLSTON SPA — It might not prevent protesters from showing up, but it will provide grieving families with a buffer zone if they do. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved legislation that makes it illegal to protest within 500 feet of a military funeral or funeral-related event, like wakes, burials or other memorial services. The law covers the duration of the funeral or funeral-related event, as well as the preceding two hours and following two hours. Any person who knowingly violates the law can face misdemeanor charges punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment. The county law does not cover demonstrations held at cemeteries under the control of the National Cemetery Administration, like Gerald B.H. Solomon- Saratoga National Cemetery, because national cemeteries are governed by federal law. Last week, a member of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church told The Saratogian the law wouldn’t prevent church members from coming to Saratoga to picket funerals. Though it has been picketing various events every day for 20 years, Westboro has become infamous for its controversial sign-laden demonstrations at military funerals. The board said these demonstrations “prevent family members from mourning their loved ones in peace, and cause such family members to frequently suffer emotional distress.”

http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/06/21/news/doc4e013eb39f65b070238306.txt

It should be illegal to protest any funeral, period. It is extremely disrespectful to the mourners, no matter who has passed. These WBC idiots should be banned from the planet.

Let them protest.

But suspend assault/battery charges while they do.

/\ /\

Works for me. Or if any of the WBC folks pass than the family of those that were affected by them protesting before have the right to show up & urinate in the casket.

MA$$hole wrote: It should be illegal to protest any funeral, period. It is extremely disrespectful to the mourners, no matter who has passed. These WBC idiots should be banned from the planet.

We're going to suspend our right to assembly and free speech because some people are being disrespectful?

WBC gets exactly what it wants (an easy lawsuit) when municipalities pull this crap.

ppddppdd wrote:

MA$$hole wrote: It should be illegal to protest any funeral, period. It is extremely disrespectful to the mourners, no matter who has passed. These WBC idiots should be banned from the planet.

We're going to suspend our right to assembly and free speech because some people are being disrespectful? WBC gets exactly what it wants (an easy lawsuit) when municipalities pull this crap.

Yep. It's a double whammy of feel good fail

-The gov't gets to take more of our rights away even though we're not being jackwagons like the WBC guys

-Said jackwagons then get to still do their protest, sue the gov't, and by doing so get the taxpayers to fund their next years worth of protests.

I won't bother coming back to this thread though, I got attacked for saying so last time, despite being pretty damn familiar with Phelps. I've met him more than once, and have tried to invite him out to dinner a few times (because I think it would be potentially interesting)

The only way to stop these guys is via their pocketbooks, and this does the opposite of that. Or (possibly worse) it succeeds and we all lose a bit more of our rights. It's lose-lose for us.

failboat....I love that picture.

In reply to integraguy:

I did too, but it couldn't stay. No F-bombs in pics, please.

In reply to Tom Heath:

I guess I'm glad I copied it when I did, and I understand why you removed it....no complaints from me.

They basically just passed what the supreme court decided in their last session: the case in question had the protesters xxx feet from the funeral, and a family member filed suit. Court decided since the protestors were (think it was 200 ft) a distance from the funeral, their right of free speech should be upheld. Members DID however "express" disgust, as best they could in the decision, at the ruling...

I agree, there should be no protesting at a funeral, except by family members....especially those not in the Will.

triumph5 wrote: They basically just passed what the supreme court decided in their last session: the case in question had the protesters xxx feet from the funeral, and a family member filed suit. Court decided since the protestors were (think it was 200 ft) a distance from the funeral, their right of free speech should be upheld. Members DID however "express" disgust, as best they could in the decision, at the ruling... I agree, there should be no protesting at a funeral, except by family members....especially those not in the Will... EDIT add: A very easy, legal way would be before and during a funeral, the family is renting the entire property, and therefore has the right to regulate who's allowed on the property. Won't work with some of the really small or huge cemeteries, but it's easy and legal.

I knew I should have hit it with some MS Paint and added "BERKELEY"