Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Law Shielding Mourners; Ending Funeral Protests
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today signed legislation to protect mourners’ rights by enacting additional restrictions on protests at funerals.
“It is offensive that groups would attempt to spread a message of hate as families and friends grieve the loss of a loved one. No family should have to endure such hardship,” Blunt said. “I am pleased to sign this bill to honor our military heroes and give families the opportunity to grieve in peace without distraction regardless of where they choose to hold their loved one’s funeral.”
House Bill 1026, sponsored by Rep. Martin Rucker, expands existing laws to make it a crime to picket or protest at any location where a funeral is held one hour before and one hour after a funeral. The law expands existing protections for mourners to those funerals held somewhere other than churches, cemeteries or funeral homes. For example funerals and services held in local schools or parks would also protected by the new law.
The bill complements the Spc. Edward Lee Myers Law signed earlier this year. That law enacted restrictions on protests in front of or about any church, cemetery, or funeral establishment and was passed in response to an August protest in St. Joseph at the funeral of Spc. Edward Myers, who died in service to his country while stationed in Iraq. It made it illegal for any person or group to engage in protest within one hour before and one hour following any funeral service. Individuals who violate the law are guilty of a Class B misdemeanor on the first offense and a Class A misdemeanor on subsequent offenses.
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