DU this abortion related poll about picketing private homes

Would you support a measure that would require anyone picketing a private home to be either across the street from the residence or 50 feet down the street from the targeted home?

Bottom of page: http://www.omaha.com/#poll6808

Story: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2296402

Published Wednesday
December 13, 2006

Abortion foes argue against picket limits

BY KAREN SLOAN


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

FULL story at link above. Reg required: Published Wednesday
December 13, 2006

Abortion opponent Stephen Zach clutched a foot-tall ceramic statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe as he sat in the Omaha City Council chambers on Tuesday.

Wendy Davis, who works at a Bellevue abortion clinic, broke down in tears as she described the picketing by abortion protestors outside her south Omaha home.

Tuesday's public hearing was intended to provide the council with feedback on what has been called a focused picketing ordinance. The measure would require anyone picketing a private home to be either across the street from the residence or 50 feet down the street from the targeted home.

After nearly an hour of discussion, however, it became clear that separating the issue of picketing from the issue of abortion would be difficult.

The two people who spoke in favor of the ordinance are employed by organizations that perform abortions.

Three of the four people who opposed the ordinance are affiliated with Rescue the Heartland, which pickets outside abortion clinics and the homes of clinic employees.

"Why don't they just call this the Rescue the Heartland bill, because we're the only ones it's going to apply to?" asked Larry Donlan, who heads Rescue the Heartland.

!

they should have to purchase a permit.

then it's a hands down situation where they can't hide behind the 1st amendment. As I said in my earlier post they must take this crap to city or some other PUBLIC building or area.

right to privacy.


Though, it has come to pass that people in the "public eye" have diminished privacy rights, for whatever reason, this Doctor is merely doing her job and performing LEGAL procedures, and thus, should not be subjected to the harassment of these "pro-birthers".

Does that change your position.

As long as its on public property, I tend towards allowing protesting

the public eye, which in itself changes the dynamics of the situation. Besides Rummy is a war criminal and who knows what illegal acts Duke has committed. Whereas the Doctor is performing LEGAL procedures.

So, in answer to your question. Yes it would change my position, but only because the people you used as examples are both in the public eye and at least one has committed criminal acts.

picketing a private residence is going a bit too far. Even if you thought you had a legitimate issue with one person or household, what about the rest of the neighborhood? Wouldn't the protesters be interfering with their right to peace and privacy in their own homes? Not to mention that abortion protesters often wave signs and posters depicting scenes and language that would be totally inappropriate for young children to see. This is just crazy.

We have plenty of "Christofascists" right here!

When are these people going to get lives? Don't they have any sins of their own to work on? maybe some good works to do?

What a bunch of asshats! :crazy:

if they would spend this wasted time helping someone, instead of antoginzing people, then they could call themselves "Christians".

.........people have a right to pickett, protest, demonstrate...whatever. However, if it's in front of a private home - the inhabitants (and the people living to the left and right) have rights also.
The rights of one shouldn't cancel out the rights of the other.

lot like harassment or even stalking. I wonder if someone could make a case with that.

here in my area of CT. However, the community liked the doctor and her family, were offended by the protestors and counter picketed them, with signs supporting the doctor! As a matter of fact, they greatly outnumbered the protestors and off they scampered. They never tried to pull that stunt again!

you have to stay away from the targeted house. Personally, I think it would be interesting if some people decided to picket the houses of the anti-choice folks and see if they like it. But if I were living in the neighborhood, I think I'd either install an electric fence around my yard or hire big dogs that bark a lot so that the protestors would, at the very least, feel uneasy.

One other thing I didn't see mentioned was whether these folks have the right to picket, say, at 3:00 am. Or would protesting at late or very early hours be a violation of some sort? If the town doesn't have curfew laws, I don't know.

however...what is to keep us from picketing the anti-choice folks? If a group of people picketed Stephan Zach or Larry Donlan for a day or so, what would their response be?

Even if it's done on the street you don't get to stand in front of someone's house and pull that crap without a protest from the owners. Honestly I wouldn't put up with this even if I was in agreement with the protestors.

And if it's done down the street on a public sidewalk or even on the street itself now you're talking about pissing off any residents who will either be pissed by the fact that they can't get out of their driveways or that their 4 year old has to be exposed to the radical pro-death nuts (these people always support killing everything just not cells)

No take that shit to city hall or some other public building but keep it outta my and other people's neighborhoods.

scabs were picketed at their homes. A law like this would prohibit similar actions.

you also be on private property? Most neighborhoods have other HOMES across the street - not public areas.

Seems to me this issue is more about personal property rights than freedom of speech.

It's interesting the apparent hypocrisy at times. Freedom of assembly and protest cannot be subjective. We've had that far too long under Bush.

Would you support a measure that would require anyone picketing a private home to be either across the street from the residence or 50 feet down the street from the targeted home?


Yes 1633

No 461

I have no opinion 95


Your browser must support cookies and must have cookies enabled in order for you to vote.
Note: This question is for our site visitors' enjoyment only and is not a scientific poll.

I know that cops get to go bust up a party on the basis of a noise complaint.

Personally if I were the owner I would find ways to take matters into my own hands.