Oklahoma Funeral Protection Act

Anti-gay protests by a small religious group at funerals for troops killed in Iraq have prompted more than a dozen states to move to restrict picketing at funerals.Westboro Baptist members picket military funerals, holding signs with such messages as "Thank God for IEDs" and "God Hates Fag Enablers." They say God is punishing America for tolerating gays.On (Oct. 5, 2005) -- State Rep. Paul Wesselhöft announced that he is filing legislation to prevent protests at soldiers’ funerals, a bill he calls the "Oklahoma Funeral Protection Act". After an Oklahoma soldier’s funeral was picketed by a radical group from out of state, Wesselhöft, R-Moore, believes it is time to take action."For any group, church or organization to picket or protest at anyone’s funeral, and especially the funerals of United States service members who give their blood and lives for their country in Iraq and Afghanistan, is unacceptable," said Wesselhöft, a retired U.S. Army Chaplain who has conducted many military funerals. "For such a group to demonstrate, yell hate speech and judge people’s souls in the midst of the deceased’s distraught and grieving family, while they are surviving their most vulnerable state, is revolting, vulgar and vomitous; it is heartbreaking, and not ever right. Never."On Saturday, July 23, 2005, the community of Newkirk honored Army Specialist Jared D. Hartley, who was killed on duty in Iraq. As the town gathered to mourn, 10 people from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Ks. waved protest signs and yelled insensitive comments during the funeral.The state House passed legislation today that would ban boisterous protests at funerals.Supporters of the bill say it, along with a similar measure passed last week by the state Senate, would prevent demonstrations at funerals of American soldiers killed in the line of duty.

This law also has the potential to limit the activties of groups such as the Patriot Guard Riders http://www.patriotguard.org the main mission according to the groups web site is to attend the funeral services of fallen American service men and women as invited guests of the family. Each mission they undertake has two basic objectives. First to show their sincere respect for this countries fallen soldiers, their families, and their communities.Secondly to Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors. They claim that they accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means. While any group that would protest at the funeral of a fallen soldier shows a lack of respect it is their right to protest, although many (includeing myself) find this rather tacky.