Michigan Will Ban Protests At Military Funerals

It is now a felony in the State of Michigan, thanks to the 102-1 vote on Tuesday. The vote now moves on to the State Senate, and is expected to be signed into legislation by Governor Granholm (after all, it is election year in a state watching what is left of it's economy flushing hopelessly down the toilet).

The legislation is aimed at the Rev. Fred Phelps and members of his Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, who have protested at military funerals around the nation and in Michigan with chants and signs saying that the deaths of soldiers killed in Iraq are God's vengeance for acceptance of homosexuality, promiscuity and adultery in the United States.

"When you are burying your child, you stand on the edge of sanity and insanity," said Mike Kilpela, the father of a slain Marine from Fowlerville, who said he believes the law will not only protect families but the protesters, too.

"It wouldn't take much for a comment to be made that would push someone over the edge," added Kilpela, whose son, Lance Cpl. Andrew Kilpela, 22, was killed last year in Iraq by a roadside bomb.

Protesters planned to attack the funeral for Mr. Kilpela's son, but missed it because they were delayed by police.

The lone holdout was Rep. Leon Drolet, R-Clinton Township. He has some concern because of the First Amendment "rights."

Drolet said courts have struck down efforts to distance protesters at abortion clinics.

"The 500-feet standard has never been upheld anywhere," Drolet said. "This is not whether I want to stand up and protect the right of some subhuman pig protester at a soldier's funeral. It's to make sure he doesn't beat us in court. And I'm afraid this kind of legislation is going to be found unconstitutional."

Well, Leon, here's how it should be - funerals are private affairs. They are not public affairs (in most circumstances). Some slime ball "pastor" and his slime ball "flock" do not have the right to interrupt a private ceremony (almost always held on privately-owned land) to berate a grieving mother and father, wives and children. Not to sound cruel, but the serviceman is dead - he can't care about it. The family members are the ones who are alive, and it it HARASSMENT of the family member.

Plus, let's say "Reverend" Freddie's boys and girls have to sit a few nights in the slammer, but get some fancy attorney to take the law to court. Say the court does declare it unconstitutional. At least these people behaving like pieces of pig excrement will have to be in jail for some period of time. At least they will have to spend their money and time on legal defense.

Another option, and perhaps much more fun to watch, would make it mandatory for any police officers take a 10 minute break during a funeral and letting the Patriot Guard handle the sanitation duties during the break.

Let's hope the Michigan Senate will speedily pass the funeral bill - and if not this one, then at least require the 10 minute breaks.

Tags: Patriot Guard , Military Funerals , First Amendment