Lawmakers back funeral protest limits

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The New York Legislature has voted to put limits on protesters at military funerals.

Sponsors say the measures balance demonstrators' rights to free speech with families' ability to mourn without additional distress.

Members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., have protested at many military funerals across the country, saying U.S. troop deaths are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

One bill triples the buffer zone for protests around a religious service, funeral, burials or memorial services from 100 to 300 feet.

Another authorizes a permit process for demonstrations at veteran funerals and fines for failure to comply.

Sen. Joseph Griffo, a Republican from Oneida County, says grieving military families shouldn't be the target of political demonstrations.