Pro-life advocates in St. Louis, Missouri soon could lose their free speech rights outside of city abortion facilities.
Facing pressure from abortion activists, the St. Louis Board of Alderman public safety committee voted Wednesday to approve a buffer zone around the city Planned Parenthood, St. Louis Public Radio reports.
The ordinance would put an 8-foot buffer zone around the facility driveway to prevent sidewalk counselors from approaching people with life-affirming information and support.
Brian Westbrook, executive director of the Coalition for Life in St. Louis, said that 8-foot zone really is more like 20 feet.
“The 8 feet starts at the edge of the driveway. And then you add the size of the driveway, that’s another 12 feet to the middle. So you’re at least 20 feet away,” Westbrook told the radio station. “I cannot properly hand them a piece of information that offers free services to them from 20 feet away.”
He said pro-lifers in the city are contacting the aldermen to voice their opposition to the ordinance. Westbrook said the proposal clearly violates the First Amendment, and they will consider a legal challenge if it passes.
(continue reading)
(More info on BB 34)
Facing pressure from abortion activists, the St. Louis Board of Alderman public safety committee voted Wednesday to approve a buffer zone around the city Planned Parenthood, St. Louis Public Radio reports.
The ordinance would put an 8-foot buffer zone around the facility driveway to prevent sidewalk counselors from approaching people with life-affirming information and support.
Brian Westbrook, executive director of the Coalition for Life in St. Louis, said that 8-foot zone really is more like 20 feet.
“The 8 feet starts at the edge of the driveway. And then you add the size of the driveway, that’s another 12 feet to the middle. So you’re at least 20 feet away,” Westbrook told the radio station. “I cannot properly hand them a piece of information that offers free services to them from 20 feet away.”
He said pro-lifers in the city are contacting the aldermen to voice their opposition to the ordinance. Westbrook said the proposal clearly violates the First Amendment, and they will consider a legal challenge if it passes.
(continue reading)
(More info on BB 34)
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