Editorial: "Hallowed Ground" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: "Hallowed Ground"

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Last year I editorialized on the idiotic intentions of the Westboro Baptist Church out of Topeka, Kansas to picket the funeral of a fallen Alabama Marine.

This group has decided that military funerals are one place for them to further their agenda with complete disregard for the acts of heroism of the soldier or the feelings of the family and friends in attendance.

The U.S. Government has decided to make it harder for groups like this to do this in the future. Last week the President signed into law The Honoring America's Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012.  

Under this new law protests must be held at least 300 feet from military funerals and are prohibited two hours before or after a service. Alabama didn't wait for Washington to pass a law like this as we signed a very similar one into law in May of this year.

While we support the right to free expression, freedom of speech and peaceful protest as outlined in the First Amendment military protests on hallowed ground should be governed and restricted. 

What's ironic about all of this is that those that are protesting – albeit in a restricted manner - can do so because of the bloodshed by those military men and women they are picketing. 

It sure would nice if you didn't have to legislate respect.

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