KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A ban on picketing at funerals may violate first amendment rights, but Kansas City leaders say families need protection too.
At a public safety committee meeting Wednesday, Councilman Ed Ford spoke to the committee about an ordinance that would repeal current laws that prohibit picketing in funerals.
He says the city is at risk of being sued by members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. The church is known for sending picketers to funerals of military service members across the country, saying the soldiers' deaths are God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality.
"As good stewards of public money, we don’t want to throw good money after bad and give the Phelps family a win by having their attorneys come in, declare our ordinance unconstitutional and getting their attorney's fees," Ford said.
Committee members acknowledged the possibility of infringing on free speech, but also addressed the privacy rights of the families.
The committee decided to look into other options for restrictions on picketing to avoid a lawsuit and will discuss the proposed ordinance again in two weeks.
