Editing Westboro Baptist Church (section)

===Laws limiting funeral protests===
In response to the protests conducted by Westboro members at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana Indiana] funerals, a bill was introduced in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_General_Assembly Indiana General Assembly] that would make it a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony felony] to protest within 500 feet (150 m) of a funeral. The bill provides penalties of up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine for those found to be in violation of the law. Shortly before this bill was signed members of the church had threatened to protest in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokomo,_Indiana Kokomo, Indiana], at a funeral service that was being held for a soldier who was killed in Iraq. On January 11, 2006, the bill unanimously (11–0) passed a committee vote, and while members of the church had traveled to Kokomo to protest, they were not seen during or after the funeral service. On May 23, 2006, the state of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan Michigan] banned any intentional disruption of funerals within 500 feet (150 m) of the ceremony. Violating the statute would be a felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine for the first offense and up to four years in prison and a $10,000 fine for a subsequent offense.

On May 17, 2006, the state of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois Illinois] enacted Senate Bill 1144, the "Let Them Rest In Peace Act", to shield grieving military families from protests during funerals and memorial services of fallen military service members. A first-time violation of the Act is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine and a Class 4 felony for a second or subsequent offense, which is punishable by one to three years in state prison and a fine of up to $25,000.<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/chi-quinn-signs-let-them-rest-in-peace-act-20110814-story.html Quinn signs Let Them Rest in Peace Act], ''Chicago Tribune''</ref>

On May 29, 2006, President [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush George W. Bush] signed into law the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_America%27s_Fallen_Heroes_Act Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act] ([http://www.law.cornell.edu/jureeka/index.php?doc=USPubLaws&cong=109&no=228 Pub.L. 109–228]), prohibiting protests within 300 feet (91 m) of the entrance of any cemetery under control of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Cemetery_Administration National Cemetery Administration] from 60 minutes before to 60 minutes after a funeral. Penalties for violating the act are up to $100,000 in fines and up to one year imprisonment. The bill garnered overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress with a 408–3 vote in the House, with 21 not voting, and a unanimous vote in the Senate.

On January 11, 2011, the state of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona Arizona] held an emergency legislative session to pass a bill barring protests within 300 feet (91 m) of a funeral and within an hour from its beginning or end. The bill was swiftly signed into law ahead of the January 12 funeral of those killed in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_shooting 2011 Tucson shooting].

On August 2, 2012, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Congress Congress] passed a bill that included restrictions on demonstrators at military funerals, which became law four days later when signed by President Obama. The bill says that for 2 hours before until 2 hours after the funeral service demonstrators must stay at least 300 feet (91 m) away from the boundary of the funeral location and away from the residence of grieving family members.