Lawmakers granted second-round approval to a bill that increases to 500 feet the distance picketers must maintain at funerals. Current law requires protesters to stay at least 300 feet away.
The bill -- LB284 -- is aimed at such protesters as the Westboro
Baptist Church, a fringe group based in Topeka, Kansas. The group says God is punishing the military for America's tolerance of
homosexuality.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the church's right to
picket at the funerals, despite the pain caused to the grieving
father of a Marine. The Marine died in a vehicle accident in Iraq.
The legislation sailed through the second of three readings with
no debate. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, said
the ruling did not affect his legislation.
