Bush Signs Law Banning Protests at Military Funerals

President Bush on Monday signed the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act (H.R. 5037), restricting demonstrations at military funerals. The law applies from one hour before until one hour after military funerals at all national cemeteries, and bans all protests within 300 feet of the entrance to a national cemetery and within 150 feet of any road leading into the cemetery. Violations will be punishable by fines up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison.

The law defines "demonstration" as:

• Any picketing or similar conduct.

• Any oration, speech, use of sound amplification equipment or device, or similar conduct that is not part of a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.

• The display of any placard, banner, flag, or similar device, unless such a display is part of a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.

• The distribution of any handbill, pamphlet, leaflet, or other written or printed matter other than a program distributed as part of a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony.

Congress passed the law mainly in response to demonstrations held by a Kansas church group at military funerals, claiming that U.S. deaths in Iraq were the result of God's anger at tolerance of homosexuals in U.S. society.

The Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act passed by a vote of 408 - 3 in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate.

Also See: Bush Honors Fallen Heroes