"Let them rest in peace" act set for vote

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

For immediate release: Tuesday, May 9, 2006

Contact: Katie Jones at (614) 466-1464

“Let Them Rest in Peace Act” Scheduled for Floor Vote

(COLUMBUS)– Legislation sponsored by state Rep. John Boccieri that would set a minimum distance between protestors and funerals is set for a full vote of the Ohio House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon.

Boccieri’s House Bill 484 is a response to a Kansas-based group that has taken to demonstrating at the funerals of Persian Gulf veterans. It cleared the House State and Local Government Committee with no opposition Tuesday.

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka have organized the protests, claiming God is killing soldiers and allowing such tragedies as Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 because of rampant homosexuality. The group visited Ohio nearly a dozen times, and even organized a Statehouse protest of Rep Boccieri’s legislation recently.

“I’m pleased this legislation is moving forward,” Boccieri said. “The question we are trying to address is: Where do the rights to free speech end and where does the family’s right to privacy begin? “

“I believe that line begins 300 feet away from a grieving family,” Boccieri said.

State Representative Boccieri is a C-130 Pilot in the Air Force Reserves who completed his fourth rotation in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom last September. The Air Force Reserve Major also served as an Honor Guard Commander on active duty, responsible for the ceremonies at military funerals.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with this issue at all,” Rep. Boccieri said. “But we are talking about tactics so disgusting, so far out of bounds, that we are left with no other choice.”

# # #