Funeral protest bill moves forward in the Oklahoma Legislature

Oklahoma is getting closer to becoming the latest state to ban protests at funerals. <br/><br/>The effort comes after protests by a handful of people from a Kansas church at the funerals of fallen soldiers.

Monday, February 27th 2006, 10:40 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma is getting closer to becoming the latest state to ban protests at funerals.

The effort comes after protests by a handful of people from a Kansas church at the funerals of fallen soldiers. Those protests have outraged many; at least 12 states want to put a stop to it.

Two similar measures in the Oklahoma House and Senate ban protests before, during and after funeral services. Anyone violating the ban could get a month or two in jail.

State representative Paul Wesselhoft of Moore: "The funeral protests, I take personally. I'm a retired US Army Chaplain. I've been an Airborne Ranger. I've conducted hundreds of military funerals and almost that many civilian funerals, so when I see someone disrupting a funeral in their most vulnerable state of grieving. I do take it personally."

The measure is expected to be worked out in the next week or two. Once it is signed by the Governor, it would go into effect immediately.