Congress has finally delivered a bill that will limit Westboro Baptist Church protesters from disrupting Military funerals.
The bill which is called “Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act” was passed on Tuesday, nearly two weeks after a unanimous vote in the Senate.
The bill which is now headed to President Barack Obama’s desk will limit protesters from being able to picket military funerals two hours before the service.
The bill also requires protesters to be at least 300 feet away from grieving family members at the military funerals.
This aspect of the legislation was introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who, proposed new limitations on military funeral demonstrations as a response to a 2011 Supreme Court case that ruled such actions were protected under the First Amendment.
A Spokesperson for Westboro Baptist Church, Marge Phelps said Thursday, “There is a high likelihood that this law will be challenged”.
The bill also contains a variety of measures meant to address veteran’s health, housing, and education benefits.
