The Arizona legislature has passed emergency legislation ensuring a 300-ft distance between the Westboro Baptist Church and funerals of Tucson shooting victims this weekend, ABC15 reports:
Arizona State Representative Kyrsten Sinema said when she heard of the plans, she got downright angry and decided to take action.
Sinema sponsored Senate Bill 1101 and got some help from fellow legislators.
"We patterned legislation after Ohio's law which is constitutional, it’s been upheld in court, and I got permission from the speaker and the senate president to wave the rules," Sinema said.
That bill was passed just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, and is expected to be signed by Governor Brewer, tonight.
"The bill requires them to be at least 300 feet away from the funeral from an hour before the funeral starts to an hour after it ends and that way people can grieve and love in peace," Sinema said.
The legislation is said to be similar to what 40 other states have currently adopted.
Shortly after the shooting, the hateful church announced plans to picket the funerals, accompanied by a video from WBC Fred Phelps. The plans inspired a counter protest to raise funds for the Anti-Violence Project of Southern Arizona.
