MONTGOMERY – A hate group infamous for protesting the funerals of fallen soldiers and other victims would be forced to keep a respectful distance under a proposed new law that passed the Alabama House of Representatives last week.

House Bill 238, sponsored by Rep. DuWayne Bridges (R-Valley), sets a perimeter of 1000 feet, or two blocks, for any disruption of a funeral in Alabama. The law was proposed because the hate group calling itself the “Westboro Baptist Church” has disrupted the funeral and burial ceremonies of fallen military personnel, at least one victim of the 2006 school bus crash in Huntsville and murdered Auburn University student Lauren Burk.