Should Protestors Be Banned From Military Funerals?

Protesting military funerals is disrespectful

In May 2006, President Bush signed into law the "Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act", which limited protests near certain military funerals. Here is a portion of that law:

"Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act - Prohibits a demonstration on the property of a cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration or on the property of Arlington National Cemetery unless the demonstration has been approved by the cemetery superintendent or the director of the property on which the cemetery is located.

Prohibits, with respect to such a cemetery, a demonstration during the period beginning 60 minutes before and ending 60 minutes after a funeral, memorial service, or ceremony is held, any part of which demonstration: (1) takes place within 150 feet of a road, pathway, or other route of ingress to or egress from such cemetery property and includes, as part of such demonstration, any individual willfully making or assisting in the making of any noise or diversion that disturbs or tends to disturb the peace or good order of the funeral, memorial service, or ceremony; or (2) is within 300 feet of such cemetery and impedes the access to or egress from such cemetery."

In the final decision about whether or not to punish those who would protest a military funeral, we must first determine when protesting at or near a funeral service ceases to be "freedom of speech" and starts infringing on a person's "right to privacy".