Reps. David Law, Accavitti, Acciavatti, Anderson, Ball, Baxter, Booher, Brandenburg, Brown, Caswell, Clack, Clemente, Condino, Elsenheimer, Espinoza, Farhat, Farrah, Garfield, Gleason, Gosselin, Green, Hansen, Hildenbrand, Jones, Kooiman, LaJoy, Leland, Lemmons, III, Lipsey, Marleau, McDowell, Meyer, Mortimer, Nitz, Pastor, Pearce, Plakas, Proos, Rocca, Sak, Schuitmaker, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Stahl, Stakoe, Steil, Taub, Vander Veen, Walker and Wojno offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 226.
A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation restricting protests at funerals.
Whereas, More than 100 military funerals nationwide have been besieged with protesters in the past three years. Protesters have trespassed on the solitude and dignity of grieving families, who want nothing more than to bury their husbands, wives, sons, and daughters in peace and solemnity. Espousing perverse and hateful language and placards, these protesters celebrate the slaying of our nation's heroes; and
Whereas, No family member, on the blackest day of their life, should have to confront such premeditated viciousness, which is solely calculated to deepen the anguish of bereavement. Under such circumstances, the family's right to privacy outweighs any supposed free speech concerns; and
Whereas, The United States Congress is considering legislation to restrict protests at funerals at national cemeteries for 60 minutes before or after a funeral. The measure would also restrict protesters to remain 500 feet or more from the grave site or from individuals they are protesting; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact legislation restricting protests at funerals; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.