Civil liberties groups and some Democrats have criticized the laws as potential violations of free speech rights.
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| The old, raised fist for Don Lemon meme |
"States across the country are beginning to impose tougher criminal penalties on protesters who disrupt church services and other religious gatherings following a high-profile demonstration inside a Minnesota church earlier this year.
"At least four states have approved new laws this year aimed at protecting worship services from disruptions, while similar legislation has been introduced in several other states and in Congress.
"Supporters of the measures say the laws are needed as churches and synagogues remain on heightened alert following years of violence and politically charged confrontations targeting religious institutions. They say existing trespassing laws are insufficient to deter increasingly aggressive protests..jpg)
Lemon's aid
"'People should go to church to be able to sit in peace, worship as they please, without having to worry about people coming in and harassing them,” Mark Harris said after co-sponsoring legislation in Idaho. “I think the thing that happened in Minnesota was kind of a shock to some of us, that churches would be used as a place to berate people.”
"New laws have already been enacted in Idaho, Louisiana and Oklahoma. In Kansas, legislation is becoming law without the signature of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
"The measures vary by state, but generally make it a crime to interfere with religious assemblies or disrupt worship services. Some laws also restrict certain protest activity near houses of worship.
"Penalties in some states include up to one year in jail and fines reaching $10,000 for first-time offenders. The laws also give states authority to pursue prosecutions if local authorities decline to act." . . .
