Kansas City Restricts Funeral Protests

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CN) - Emboldened by a recent 8th Circuit ruling, the Kansas City Council passed a law restricting protests at funerals.

The law requires protesters to stay at least 300 feet from a funeral home, cemetery or house of worship during the service, and for an hour before and after it.

It's based on a law in the St. Louis suburb of Manchester, which the 8th Circuit upheld as constitutional in October.

The appeals court ruled that the law was narrowly written and allowed adequate opportunities for protesters to express their views.

Kansas City Council members told the Kansas City Star they passed the law with the Westboro Baptist Church in mind.

Westboro members protest at soldiers' funerals, claiming that the soldiers' deaths are punishment from God because America accepts homosexuals.

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