Report: County-Wide Funeral Protest Ban Could Mirror Creve Coeur Law

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis County Councilman Steve Stenger, D-Affton, wants to pass legislation that would restrict funeral protests.

(Read Previous Story: Appeals Court Rules Manchester Can Restrict Funeral Protests)

Stenger wants legislation that would mirror Creve Coeur's city ordinance which was passed this week by the city council, the Post reports.

to an ordinance similar to Manchester's city ordinance which prohibits protests within 300 feet of a funeral one hour before and one hour after services. It differs in that it includes the phrase "knowingly" to allow that in some cases, a scenario could present itself where someone who lives within the radius described could have a sign of some form of protest and not realize they were violating the ordinance.

Manchester's ordinance was put in place in response to protests like those by Westboro Baptist Church where members are known for anti-gay protests at the funerals of U.S. soldiers, claiming the soldiers' deaths are a result of America's tolerance for homosexuality.

In 2010, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenged Manchester's ordinance and filed a lawsuit against the Ciyt of Manchester.

Howerver, in October, a federal appeals court ruled that the City of Manchester can enforce its funeral protest ban.

The Post-Dispatch article reports that Stenger plans to introduce the funeral protest ban legislation at Tuesday's council meeting.