Zealous protesters, upset women, and protective boyfriends or parents can form a volatile swirl outside of abortion clinics. Pittsburgh City Council members yesterday proposed legislation that would insert protective "buffer zones" into that mix.

The ordinance by Councilmen William Peduto and Doug Shields would bar protesters from getting within 15 feet of the doors or eight feet of clients at any health care facility, including such clinics.

The proposed ordinance is carefully balanced, said Mr. Shields.

"The public has a right to First Amendment protest," he said. "People have a right to access legal health care."

Anti-abortion protesters, though, said they'd fight any restriction on their right to assemble or speak.

"Saying we can't stand on a public sidewalk in front of a building won't fly," said Bob Newman of Upper St. Clair, a member of People Concerned for the Unborn Child. "Or at least, it will be challenged."

The proposed ordinance bars protesters, leafleters or so-called counselors from getting close to anyone who is within 100 feet of a health care facility "unless such other person consents."

"If they come up to a person and picket or leaflet, and the person says [to] back off, they have to move eight feet away," said Susan Frietsche, a senior staff attorney with the Downtown-based Women's Law Project, which helped draft the legislation.

"There needs to be an ability to separate people in these very intense emotional situations," said Kim Evert, chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, who supports the proposal.

She said protesters frequently mass near clinics like Allegheny Reproductive Health Center in East Liberty and her organization's Downtown office. She noted that issues like stem cell research and genetic engineering could inspire protests near hospitals.

Anti-abortion activists said it was unfair to restrict a specific kind of protest.

"Why would [an abortion protest] be any different than if I was picketing a high school?" said John Dick, a Forest Hills resident who protests in front of Allegheny Reproductive. "We're offering [women] alternatives to abortion. I don't see what's so wrong about that."

Mr. Shields said protesters sometimes cross the line, getting in women's faces or trying to shove literature in their purses or jackets. Mr. Dick countered that anti-abortion counselors are sometimes pushed by "escorts" deployed by the clinics, or occasionally punched by mothers of clinic patients.

Paula Harris, a volunteer who has escorted patients to clinics for 12 years, said she'd never seen any violence other than unintentional jostling.

"There is a potential for violence," she added. "The demonstrators follow the patient all the way to the door, which is sometimes a block or more. ... It gets very emotional and very tense."

Clinic protests "are very difficult situations," said city Police Chief Robert W. McNeilly Jr. "They are emotionally charged on more than one side."

He said he had not heard of violent incidents outside of local clinics. He had not reviewed the ordinance, but noted police would "almost need a ruler" to enforce the buffer zones.

The buffer zone concept comes from a Colorado law that the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 2000.

Barb Feige, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Pittsburgh chapter, said her office is reviewing the proposed ordinance "to see if we have any concerns."

Under the proposal, violators could be fined $50 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $300 for a third offense. Anyone with four or more offenses could get 30 days in jail.

Council could vote tentatively on the legislation Dec. 7, but may opt to schedule a public hearing instead.