DES MOINES A bill to extend the buffer zone between funerals and protests from 500 to 1,000 feet won House Judiciary subcommittee approval despite a lawmakers warning the Legislature should not infringe on First Amendment free speech rights. <\/p>\n
HSB 157 was proposed by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, in response to protests by members of Westboro Baptist Church at military funerals. <\/p>\n
Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, said the bill will help deal with protesters using hate speech and attempting to cover it under the First Amendment. <\/p>\n
However, Rep. Jake Highfill, R-Johnston, said that although the Westboro protesters are sick and wrong and I certainly couldnt disagree with them more, the intent of the First Amendment is not to protect popular opinion. <\/p>\n
The bill goes to the full Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to meet again Wednesday afternoon. <\/p>\n
The bill also provides for liquidated damages for infliction of emotional distress upon military family members of up to $10,000 per person <\/p>\n
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Read the original here: DES MOINES A bill to extend the buffer zone between funerals and protests from 500 to 1,000 feet won House Judiciary subcommittee approval despite a lawmakers warning the Legislature should not infringe on First Amendment free speech rights. HSB 157 was proposed by Rep. Continue reading
\nFuneral protest restrictions move ahead in Legislature<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"