New Illinois Governor Has A History With Fred Phelps...

January 9, 2006 (WLS) -- A religious group that protests outside the funerals of military men and women is enraging many people, especially those who have lost family members in the war. A new law will be proposed this week to limit those protests.

Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn says the demonstrations only add to the pain of family members suffering the loss of a loved one. Quinn will propose what he calls a "zone of privacy" when the Illinois General Assembly reconvenes on Wednesday. It's a law that restricts how close demonstrators can be when protesting at a military funeral. But as ABC7's Kevin Roy reports, if it does become law, a court battle is likely.

"The soldier, you know, he gave his life, and I think it's a disgrace that we have to put up with this stuff," said Diana Dawkins.
The signs are designed for shock value.

"Thank God for 9/11."
"Thank God for dead soldiers."
"God hates fags."

"How could they do that? Why would they do that?" said Bob Ochsner, father of soldier.

The pain is still raw for Bob and Sandy Ochsner. They buried their son Jim in December. The 36-year-old father of two was with the Army's Special Forces. An improvised explosive device blew up near his Humvee in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of people attended Jim's memorial service at his church in north suburban Beach Park, but first they were subjected to dozens of protestors.
"A lot of people saw them and they were very disgusted with them," said Sandy Ochsner. "This is an evil that is beyond explanation. It's beyond all understanding."

These protestors are with the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. They are followers of the fire-breathing, staunchly anti-gay reverend, Fred Phelps.

"What's going on in Iraq is the wrath of God, punishing this evil nation, spitting in his face," said Rev. Fred Phelps, Sr.

For years, the 76-year-old Phelps has led protests against homosexuals, coming to Chicago in 1998 to fight gay marriage.

Since June, they have taken their protests to more than 70 funerals for soldiers killed in the War on Terror, claiming their deaths are God's retribution for America's acceptance of homosexuals.

"I don't think families should have to endure this kind of hatred on a very traumatic, emotional day," said Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn.

After attending one such funeral, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn decided to propose a new law, one that would restrict how close protestors could get.

"Police kept protestors at Sergeant Ochsner's memorial service here, across the street from the church and within earshot of everyone," said Quinn.

Under the proposed law, they would have to be at 300 feet away, in what Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn calls a "zone of privacy," and the church is now "out of eyesight."

"I just think we have the right in Illinois, and our country, to have reasonable restrictions to make sure families can exercise their religious rights, their speech rights, their assembly rights," said Quinn. "That's what the 'let them rest in peace act' is about."

But "rest in peace" is something Phelps' group vows it will not do. Calling Quinn's bill unconstitutional, Fred Phelps' daughter, a lawyer, told ABC7 news by phone, they will sue if it's passed, a battle they have waged before in kansas.

"By the time we got done with the Kansas legislature, what they ended up having to do was pay us about $170,000 in attorneys' fees, and if that's what the State of Illinois wants to do, that's all right," said Shirley Phelps-Roper, Westboro Baptist Church attorney.

Lieutenant Governor Quinn believes his bill would survive any court challenge.

After having paid the ultimate price, families like the Ochsners believe it's a fight worth having.

"People like us who have suffered this kind of loss should not have to be put through this suffering as well," said Bob Oschner.

Lieutenant Governor Quinn plans to introduce the bill when the general assembly convenes on Wednesday. He is planning to hold a news conference Tuesday, hoping to turn up the heat on lawmakers and get it passed quickly.

Many in the house and senate already have signed on as sponsors.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sec...cal&id=3796294

The new Illinois governor actually introduced the bill that made it illegal for Phelps church to picket funerals that past in to law a year or two back :thumbsup:

Regards,

Lee