Isn’t it, though?

I mean, that the sometimes unpredictable O. Snow and O. Bama were jointly involved in something as important as this, even though in Obama’s case, as always, I fear that it was motivated by election year politics (him signing off on this), though you must admit that given his track record, one can only assume that the current president doesn’t even go to the bathroom without there being some ulterior political motive.

Nonetheless, I was happy, as I know Seth, Wolf and Chuck will be, to see that this has been done.

Congress took action where the Supreme Court didn’t to curb Westbooro Baptist Church’s followers from protesting the funerals of fallen troops and veterans.

President Obama signed into law Monday the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act that includes language aimed at protecting service members funerals. The church based in Kansas is best known for staging protests at service members funerals to protest the service of homosexuals in the military.

In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled the First Amendment protected Westboro’s right to protest the funerals. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that “as a nation we have chosen … to protect even hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.”

Sen. Olympia Snow, R-Maine, introduced legislation three months following the Court’s ruling that gives the government the right to further protect the funerals. The act argues that ensuring fallen troops have respectful burials is important to maintaining a strong military and protecting national security.

The new law extends bans on picketing funeral services of troops and veterans from 150 feet to 300 feet, and prohibits protests from being conducted up to two hours before and after a funeral. Previously the ban was for an hour before and after.

Violations are punishable by a fine and up to a year in jail.

“The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground, and obviously we all defend our Constitution and the First Amendment and free speech,” Obama said at the White House ceremony Monday. “But we also believe that when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect.”

Nice going, and as the title of this post says, It’s about time!

Had my Wolf been returned deceased to me after one of his Ops and these Westboro freaks showed up at his funeral, I would have no qualms about giving them a large dose of another kind of First Amendment…