Bill would give mourners a buffer zone

By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
State Rep. John Boccieri, an Air Force Reserve pilot, says the Ohio House could vote as early as today on a bill he introduced to inhibit protests at Iraqi war veterans' funerals.
The House's State Government Committee heard testimony Tuesday on Boccieri's "Let Them Rest in Peace Act."
The proposal would require a 300-foot buffer for demonstrators around funerals of deceased veterans, said Boccieri, an Air Force Reserve major who served four tours of duty in Iraq during the last two years. The buffer would start one hour before the funeral and end one hour after it's over, he said.
The bill, introduced in January, is in response to demonstrations near veterans funerals nationwide by the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. The group has demonstrated at about 80 funerals of soldiers. The group also protested near the state House against Boccieri of New Middletown, D-61st, for introducing the bill.
The group states on its Web site that God is punishing the United States by killing soldiers in Iraq because the country is full of sinners, embraces homosexuals and defies God. God's anger at the United States caused, among other things, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, AIDS and Hurricane Katrina.
What's in bill
If the bill is enacted into law, those violating the 300-foot setback could face fines up to $250 and 30 days in jail. The group states on its Web site that it would accept a 100-foot buffer but would fight any further restrictions.
Boccieri's bill drew praise during Tuesday's state government committee hearing.
"These men and women heeded the call," Russell C. Goodwin said of fallen soldiers. Godwin is a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer and the president of Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio.
"Their funerals must be held sacred," Goodwin said.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, however, is critical of Boccieri's measure.
"The First Amendment guarantee of free speech is the hallmark of our constitutional freedoms," Carrie Davis, ACLU of Ohio's staff counsel, said in a statement.
"By restricting all speech around funerals, the General Assembly is abridging everyone's right to speak in order to silence one bad apple," Davis said.
"While using others' grief as a bully-pulpit is certainly in poor taste, we must recognize that all speech -- even that which is offensive -- is protected by the Constitution," Davis said.
Senate President Bill M. Harris, an Ashland Republican, said if the House passes the bill, state senators will immediately take it up for consideration.
"We'll do our best to support this bill," said Harris, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer.
Contributor: Jeff Ortega, Vindicator correspondent.
skolnick@vindy.com