Several states around the country as well as the federal government have passed laws prohibiting picketing around a funeral. It would seem that every state is different.
Kentucky's law stated that not only would protesters have to be 300 feet from the funeral home, but that their signs could not be visible. It also included all signs including yard sale signs and the like. This law was struck down when I filed a federal lawsuit.
What do you think? Do you think that peaceful protests a reasonable distance from a funeral home (let's say 200-300 feet) should be legal or illegal?
Kentucky's law: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/KRS/525-00/155.PDF
2007-03-05 08:34:01 · 16 answers · asked by bartmcqueary 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Details of the federal law: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_America's_Fallen_Heroes_Act
2007-03-05 08:46:08 · update #1
I think it should be legal, but that does not mean that it isn't despicable.
As far as I know, it is only that crazy evangelical nut case who is doing this picketing. It is a bad idea to write a broad law because of one nut. As they say, bad cases make for bad laws.
2007-03-05 09:08:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a time and a place for everything. Sometimes the nonsense has to stop. If you can't realize the difference by yourself then you should be locked up like the animal you want to pretend that you are. Yes. There should be a law. You shouldn't be allowed to do these things. Most of the time people do it just for show anyway and don't really care why. I was in Washington DC on a class trip during the late 60's. I will never forget this. The bus drove past the White House. I noticed a demonstration going on in front of it. But to the side a little ways was this guy getting into a taxi. He was dressed like a hippie. The trunk of the taxi opened and he stood there and took off his long haired wig and sunglasses. He then took off this huge super colorful poncho and changed his shoes. He was now in a suit and tie that the whole ensemble had covered. He took out his briefcase and got into the taxi and it drove away. Now. Tell me about demonstrating and picketing. It's stupid and insane. If you wanna picket then do it at the White House or the Army bases or some place like that. Or are you afraid of the police? Is the reason that you have to go to a funeral to do this, because you know there won't be cops or somebody to arrest your stupid ***? Brave up. If you wanna make a statement do it where it matters. Not at a funeral. What is wrong with people today?
2007-03-05 09:24:17 · answer #2 · answered by Me2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A person only gets a funeral once in his/her life. It doesn't matter if he/she is a soldier, a king, a little kid, a prostitute, or whatever. You can protest any time. But some people have no respect for others. Passing a law does not stop people from stealing, committing murder, etc. But regardless of whether there is a law, human beings should not behave in certain ways -- and that includes being respectful at a funeral and not saying/doing anything that makes it harder for the family/friends of the dead person/
2007-03-05 08:47:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anpadh 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is extremely disrespectful for a group of protesters to show up at a funeral if they did not know the person when they were alive. Also, a funeral is a time to grieve for and remember a loved one.... protesters should stay away, peaceful or otherwise. I would think that people would have the decency and common sense to realize this. I don't think it should be illegal per se, but it's just wrong.
2007-03-05 08:43:20 · answer #4 · answered by Pfo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think its DISGUSTING to picket at the funerals of dead soldiers, i'm against the war, but they gave their lives for their country none the less. It should be illegal to protest a funeral the day of a soldiers funeral for at least 20 miles around the site of the funeral. The family is going through a hard enough time. They don't need people telling them their sons or daughters were wrong for doing what they thought was right
2007-03-05 08:41:03 · answer #5 · answered by Immanuel Kant 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Er, obviously the federal government has not passed a law prohibiting picketing because if it had, that law would trump all state laws (or _all_ states would have to adopt the federal law).
So. Sure, if it's a fair distance (though I'm not sure what a fair distance would be), people should be able to picket.
They are not, after all, picketing the funeral itself. They're picketing the war which caused the funeral in the first place.
2007-03-05 08:43:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
There shouldn't need to be laws made against this sort of thing. There is a time and a place for protesting, and whilst a distraught family is grieving for a young man is neither the time nor the place.
PS I am anti-Iraq war too.
2007-03-05 09:08:13 · answer #7 · answered by Helena 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It should be illegal to picket outside any funeral home, funeral or enterment, anywhere, anytime, for anyone. Funerals are a time for loved ones to mourn the passing of the deceased not for yahoos to grandstand and make their political views known.
2007-03-05 08:44:10 · answer #8 · answered by V-Starion 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes! I can't believe it isn't already illegal! I believe in free speech but a funeral is no place to ethically speak out against someone. I don't care if you are Mother Theresa or Charles Manson you should have a peaceful funeral.
2007-03-05 08:43:02 · answer #9 · answered by wildheart 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The family has lost a loved one and you want to harass them?????? What kind of unfeeling, uncaring person could do such a thing? Should I be allowed to picket at your grandmothers funeral if she was killed by a drunk driver? Stop being so self-centered. Families should be allowed to grieve in private, they have made a sacrifice that I hope you never experience. Leave them alone.
2007-03-05 15:08:36 · answer #10 · answered by aytkay 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋