A bill prohibiting protests one hour before until one hour after a funeral has been approved by the House and sent to the Governor. The action is part of a two-fold strategy on the issue in an effort to get around any constitutional problems. The Senate plans to approve a second version of the bill later in the session that contains setback provisions that supporters hope will withstand a legal challenge if the first bill doesn’t. Representative Beth Low of Kansas City is one of only 17 Representatives who vote against the bill, saying it’s vague language troubles her. Critics say the bill’s vagueness makes it vlunerable to a constitutional challenge. It prohibits protests near a church or cemetary an hour before until an hour after a funeral. The second bill contains for specific language, prohibiting protestors from getting within 300 feet of a church or cemetary. The bills stem from disgust over a protest staged in St. Joseph at the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq. A congregation from Topeka, Kansas traveled to St. Joseph to protest at the funeral, claiming the soldier’s death was part of God’s judgment on America for tolerating homosexuality.
