Free Republic

A Pittsburgh ordinance drawing a 15-foot buffer zone around medical facilities where abortions are performed doesn’t violate the free speech rights of “sidewalk counselors,” the Third Circuit said. The ordinance by its terms doesn’t apply to anti-abortion protesters who engage in “peaceful, one-on-one” conversations with people entering the clinics, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit said Oct. 18. Thus, it’s valid as applied to those protesters, the court said. The ordinance prohibits four activities: congregating, patrolling, picketing, or demonstrating within 15 feet of a hospital or health-care facility entrance. The sidewalk counselors’ activities don’t meet the definition...

Turkey has agreed to a ceasefire in northern Syria between its forces and their allied rebels and U.S.-backed Syrian Kurds, Vice President Mike Pence announced.

The city council of Jackson, Mississippi voted 3-1 to enact 15-foot “buffer zones” around all medical facilities, including abortion facilities, where police will also be required to enforce restrictions on noise, such as “shouting.” Although the buffer zones are supposedly intended to apply to any health facility in the area, there is broad consensus that the law is actually aimed at pro-lifers protesting outside the Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the state’s only abortion facility. Supporters of the law claim it gives women “personal space,” but opponents point out that such buffer zones are an unconstitutional violation of free speech on...

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Most mornings outside of the Jackson Women’s Health Organization start out with anti-abortion advocates picketing and making noise as patients make their way inside. “People scream at women coming in here that they are murderers, that they’re here to kill their baby. No one should have to be subjected to that. They walk right up to them, give them no space,” said Derenda Hancock, an organizer with Pinkhouse Defenders. She and the other members escort people in and out of the clinic. The City of Jackson is introducing an ordinance that would push these protesters back...

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Planned Parenthood is suggesting New Hampshire lawmakers replace the state law creating “buffer zones” around facilities that provide abortions rather than repeal it. New Hampshire’s 25-foot buffer zone law has not been enforced since its passage last summer because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down a similar Massachusetts law. The House Judiciary Committee took testimony Tuesday on a bill to repeal the buffer zone law outright. Its sponsors say the state will face a costly lawsuit if the law remains in place.

On Wednesday, July 23, the new Massachusetts “buffer zone” bill faced its only hurdle, a passionate 4-hour debate and over a dozen attempted amendments by a core of pro-family legislators. That afternoon the initial vote was 116-35. The final House vote of 119-33 came on Tuesday, July 29. It was not entirely on party lines; ten Democrats voted “no” and six Republicans voted “yes” including some surprises (e.g., Rep. Jay Barrows, Rep Lenny Mirra). There was one minor amendment, sponsored by Democrats, introduced and passed in the House. The Senate quickly concurred, negating the need for a conference committee. All...

BUFFALO, NY, May 19, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An abortion facility allegedly locked a 15-year-old girl in an examining room and expelled her mother from the premises when they changed their minds about going through with an abortion, a nationally prominent pro-life activist has stated. Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood manager who began And Then There Were None as an outreach to other abortion workers, said she and a local pro-life counselor named Cheryl had been in touch with the frightened minor girl by text message. Johnson described the teen as “a 15 year old girl” who “is very swayed...

How far can lawmaking go in creating a buffer zone around abortion clinics to ensure women can go to the clinic before violating the First Amendment rights of those who want to talk to women about alternatives to abortion? On Jan. 15, the Supreme Court heard arguments in McCullen v. Coakley against a Massachusetts law under which a line is painted on the ground 35 feet from the door of abortion clinics. Anyone who enters that zone to speak against abortion to a woman can go to prison for committing a crime. Eleanor McCullen is an elderly woman who counsels younger women who are...

Editor's note: This post was co-authored by Townhall web editor Christine Rousselle. A 2007 Massachusetts law stops pro-life activists 35 feet short of abortion clinic entrances. Because of the enforced distance, they often have to shout to get their message across to the scared young women walking into Planned Parenthood to have abortions — not exactly a winning strategy. McCullen v. Coakley, the case that enforces the unfair limit on pro-lifers' free speech, was center stage at the Supreme Court today. Justices listened to oral argument this morning after deciding to hear the case in June. SCOTUSblog outlined what’s...

HARRISBURG, PA, December 13 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A state senator who says he has personally escorted women into abortion clinics has introduced legislation to require a statewide “buffer zone” prohibiting pro-life activity around abortion clinics. Pennsylvania State Senator Larry Farnese introduced Senate Bill 1208 on Wednesday. The bill would require “a buffer zone extending 15 feet from any portion of an entrance to or exit from the clinic’s driveway or parking lot,” according to a press release from Farnese's office. The bill would require “a buffer zone extending 15 feet from any portion of an entrance to or exit from the...

Egyptians protest after homes demolished to create buffer zone; Hamas official says Egyptian move could "solidify the blockade." Egyptian soldiers keep guard in Sinai Photo: REUTERSThe Hamas government said Sunday it was "surprised" to hear that Egypt is planning to create a buffer zone along the border with the Gaza Strip. Ehab Ghissin, spokesman for the Hamas government, said that there should be no buffer zones "between brothers and friendly countries." Ghissin expressed hope that the Egyptian move would not "solidify the blockade" and increase the suffering of the people in the Gaza Strip. He called for establishing a free...

Steve Duin No such thing as buffer zone from terrorism 04/11/02 A s we wait patiently for Ariel Sharon to follow orders -- the president's orders -- and pull Israeli tanks out of the West Bank, let's imagine how President Bush and his fellow Americans would react if Israel's prime minister rose up and ordered U.S. forces out of Afghanistan. You're thinking, I suspect, that the analogy breaks down, and you're right: Afghanistan, where U.S. troops have spent seven months running the terrorists down, is 6,750 miles from the tomb of the World Trade Center while Ramallah, the besieged headquarters...