HARRISBURG -- Protesters can bring their signs and have their say, but they won't be able to do it at funerals under new legislation before the House and Senate.

The bill would apply to all groups, but it's aimed at the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, which believes that God inflicts tragedies -- including natural disasters and military deaths -- to punish America for tolerating homosexuality, abortion, divorce and more.

State Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, Sen. Bob Regola, R-Greensburg, and Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, are pushing for a law that would prevent pickets within 500 feet of funerals.

"We're not trying to limit these protesters' right to free speech, no matter how we feel about what they're saying," Ms. Mann said at a news conference yesterday. "We are just trying to place their protest at a respectful distance so families can say their goodbyes in peace."

Westboro Baptist Church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, has been protesting at military funerals throughout the country, including here in Pennsylvania. Earlier this month, four protesters carried signs reading "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" and "God is Your Enemy" at a military funeral in Cumberland County for Capt. Bryan D. Willard, who died in a helicopter crash.

The church also recently protested at funerals of the 12 victims of the Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia and are expected to picket again at Sago Baptist Church April 2.

"There is no place for that type of disrespectful behavior. It is intolerable," Mr. Regola said.

To Westboro Baptist Church, though, the lawmakers are the intolerable ones because they are restricting free speech and religious expression.

"If they get us to shut up, it's not going to change the fact that the wrath of God is coming down on their heads," said Shirley Phelps-Roper, attorney for the church and daughter of its founder, Pastor Fred Phelps.

The church knows its protests are hurtful, but says that instead of complaining, mourners should listen to the message, repent and save themselves from hell.

"If you are not going to serve the God who created you, then he's going to deal with you," Mrs. Phelps-Roper said. "If I turned up dead at the hands of a raging mad God, the last thing I would want is somebody outside my funeral picketing, but I would be more worried about making peace with my God."

Lawmakers yesterday called the church's message illogical, mind-boggling, indecent and disrespectful.

"These attention-seeking protesters should not be allowed to tramp on the rights of the family and the memory of the person who is being laid to rest," Mr. Pippy said.

The legislation was introduced at the request of veterans, including some from the biker group Rolling Thunder, which attends military funerals to support mourners and protect them from protesters. Both bills can be read on the Legislature's Web site, www.legis.state.pa.us. Type HB2496 or SB1150 into the bill search box at the top of the page.