Let Them Rest In Peace Act

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Dec 5, 2005 10:15PM

Seriously? That's the name of the act that IL Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is introducing into legislation? Very creative. Think we found our new copywriter.

Naming jokes aside, if passed, the RIP Act would prevent protesting at funeral services. The act is a response to all the demonstrations that have been going on at funeral services for military personnel. But instead of just applying to military services, the act would create a 300 foot buffer zone between protesters and the site of any funeral or memorial service. The zone would be in effect from a half hour before the service to a half hour after.

Chicagoist is kind of split on this. People have the right to protest almost anywhere and whenever they want, don't they? But then funerals are so delicate. Familes should be allowed to have their peace while a service is going on, shouldn't they? The reasons people protest don't even always have anything to do with the family who is there mourning the loss of a loved one. Like it wasn't your decision that your brother joined the Army and died, so why do you have to look at "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" signs while you're trying to lay him to rest?