RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina General Assembly has given final approval to a measure that would impose stronger criminal penalties for people who disrupt funerals or memorial services.
The measure comes in response to the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, known for protesting at soldiers’ funerals, claiming their deaths are God’s punishment for American immorality and tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.
The measure requires protesters to stay farther away from mourners and for a longer period of time before and after funeral events than current law. Violations would result in a higher grade misdemeanor and a felony on a second offense.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously, two weeks after the House did by a similar margin.
Based in Topeka, Kan., the Westboro church is not affiliated with the Baptist denomination or any other Baptist church. According to news reports, almost all of its members — fewer than 100 — are related to founder Fred Phelps either by blood or marriage.
The group first came into the national spotlight in 1998, when it picketed at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man who was brutally attacked on the night of October 6, 1998, then tied to a fence and left to die.
The bill now heads to Gov. Pat McCrory for his signature.
Filed under: North Carolina
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ABOUT TIME!
One of the few things NC has done right in a while.
Since legalizing same sex marriage
Finally something from my home state that makes me feel a little better. Now if the Republican Governor signs it I will feel even better.
About time Westboro gets a slap in the face.
NC wont let us get married… Gov. McRory (i will refer to him as McDumbass) wants to pull funding from schools…. but hey, once you die, assholes form Westboro Baptist wont be able to bother you, maybe…
such a pity we need LAWS to dictate what Human Decency should already have covered! Best quote I’ve heard and words to live by ” Live your life in such a way the Westboro Baptist Church will want to picket your funeral”
I actually knew whom Fred Phelps and his family cult were in June 1998. They held a demonstration at the Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights Diversity Pride Celebration. They even announced in advance that they were going to show up.
The NC government loves us when were dead.
while I don’t support what they say, I do support their right to say it. Freedom of speech isn’t always pleasant, but we shouldn’t restrict their right to it. Don’t get me wrong, I hate the Westboro Baptists. They are scum and hateful. That being said, we shouldn’t knit-pick what is allowed to be said. Abridgment on our freedom of speech shouldn’t be celebrated but looked to with caution.
Freedom of speech does not equal freedom to be cruel and nasty.
That’s not freedom of speech on display that’s mental illness.
Nathan, no one’s restricting them from protesting or saying any of the hateful things that they do. This forces them to stay further away, and for longer periods of time.
You mean the same state that has amendment 1 ? There fucking ass holes
Nathan, freedom of speech doesn’t/shouldn’t cover hate speech.
it forces them to show a little respect for the families of the deceased….that is a private family matter….leave the family alone
wow NC is finally ACTING like a REA L state
As putrid as Westburo is, 1st amendment is 1st amendment. However, that does not absolve consequence. That’s what makes the entire debate funny.
I just don’t understand protesting a funeral what are you gonna accomplish They’re DEAD for crying out loud!
@ Alvin; Westboro FEEDS on peoples emotions and targets the vulnerable HOPING they will get in an altercation they can sue over… that is how they fund their whole organization. They insight a conflict and then sue as “victims”. When they came here we held training sessions on how to NOT interact with them but shut them down at their “protests” of the funerals for the flight 3407 victims. We were VERY successful. Ran the weiny inbred bastards out of town AND they got NO PRESS!!!!!
It’s, about damn time!!
To those who replied to my earlier comment, hate speech IS protected under the 1st amendment. Check out the Supreme Court ruling of Snyder v. Phelps. While I find it awful and I despise those who act in accordance or concurrence of the Westboro Baptists, I support there right to say what they say as much as I support your right to say how much you hate them.
I understand that this is about their proximity to funerals, I’m just talking about people not wanting them to be able to say what they want to say. I agree, there should be some sort of law preventing them from being too close to the grieving families, but they should by all means say what they want.
Finally something to keep those people further away!
If we wouldn’t lower ourselves to their level I’d say we should picket their services and see how they like it.