Costello II introduces first bill; aims to curb funeral protests

State Rep. Jerry Costello II has introduced his first bill, and it seeks to curb protests at soldiers' funerals.

Costello's bill would increase restrictions in an existing law. Currently protests must cease 30 minutes before a military funeral and be kept 200 feet away. Costello would increase that to one hour and 1,000 feet if House Bill 3802 passes.

He stated in a press release that more than 40 states have curbed funeral protests, even though the U.S. Supreme Court in March ruled 8-1 that the First Amendment protects protests at military funerals. The laws have been primarily aimed at the Wichita-based Westboro Baptist Church members who hold signs at military funerals declaring "God Hates Fags" because they contend soldiers' deaths are God's punishment for society's tolerance of homosexuality.

Source: http://www.bnd.com