Politics & Government

Westboro Baptist Church to Picket at Funeral for Bragg Soldier

Will the Patriot Guard Riders be able to stave off the picketers at the Texas funeral?

Fort Bragg's 4th Brigade soldier, 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell from Tyler, Texas was killed by an IED last Thursday in Zharay District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

A disturbing Facebook post has revealed that the Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket the East Texas soldier's funeral.

The Kansas-based church often pickets military funerals because it believes deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for the United States' toleration of homosexuality.

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Last week, Congress passed a sweeping veterans bill that will severely limit the notorious church's ability to protest at funerals reported the Huffington Post. According to "The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012," protesters will be barred from demonstrating at military funerals two hours before or after a service. Protesters will also be required to remain at least 300 feet away from grieving family members.

Here's to hoping the local Patriot Guard bans together in their usual fashion to protect this fallen soldier as his family and friends pay their respects.

Find out what's happening in Fort Braggwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Leave your comments below for the Patriot Guard Riders in appreciation for the job they do for our servicemembers.

 

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