Sometimes even the House of Representatives can get something right. I usually snicker at over-the-top names of certain pieces of legislation, but here's one that is important to me:

The Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, (RAFHA) just passed, 408-3. Which means that in addition to the three folks that voted against it, another 24 were absent or abstained. How could you possibly vote against this? Who were those three? Why would you pick this vote to abstain from? Unbelievable.

The RAFHA was passed as a result of a church made up of nutcases from Kansas, led by a Rev. Phelps, who seek out funerals of military folks who have just been killed in Iraq, and berate and taunt the surviving family at the funeral, shouting that America is getting punished by God for its support of homosexuals. This is a topic I've written about before, but it needs revisiting because of the recent legislation.

Fortunately, a great organization called the Patriot Guard was formed and literally rode to the rescue, showing up at funerals to which they are invited, and protecting the grieving families from the taunts of Phelps and company. The Patriot Guard, btw, has a great mission statement.

The RAFHA makes it illegal to have public demonstrations within 500 feet of a military funeral for 60 minutes before and after the funeral. Penalties are up to a $100K fine and up to 1 year in jail....if I had my druthers, the penalties would be a *minimum* FIVE years in jail and *minimum* $500,000 fine.

I hate it when folks support the Rev. Phelps "right" to undertake these activities based on concerns about abridgement of free speech rights. And I don't know, but I am guessing, that free speech concerns (i.e., "the precedent set by banning this type of "speech" is dangerous") caused the three "no" votes. What utter horsepucky. The precedent set here is an extremely narrow one. In fact, Phelps and company will *still* legally be able shout their vile, hatemongering speech and carry their despicable signs at military funerals, only from 510 feet away.

Some would say that Phelps is on to something...because of picking the target he did, people are talking about him and his message, and he is getting massive free publicity for his cause. But he will lose in the end...to borrow a phrase, his ideas will end up in the ash heap of history.

How can Phelps and his followers look at themselves in the mirror after they disrupt a military funeral? They should be permanently ashamed of themselves. I am still embarrassed that Phelps and his flock get to call themselves Americans.