Bobby Jindal Threatens Westboro Baptist Church: ‘We’re Going To Lock Them Up’

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed an executive order that allows police to arrest any Westboro Baptist Church members who attempt to protest at the funerals of two victims of the Lafayette movie theater shootings. The ACLU warns that the mandate risks undermining freedom of speech, but the governor seems determined the prevent the Church’s “nonsense.”

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed the order for police to keep church members away from the ceremonies. He explained further to the Face the Nation on CBS.

“They come here to Louisiana. They try to disrupt these funerals. We’re going to lock them up. They better not try that nonsense here.”

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the shooter, 59-year-old John Russel Houser, was linked to the church, although it claims he was not a member. The group announced plans for protesting the ceremonies on Friday. The shooting left two dead, Mayci Breaux, 21, and Jillian Johnson, 33, and nine others injured.

Bobby Jindal’s order makes use of existing state law that says protesters cannot interfere with funerals, burials, wakes, or other memorial services. If the Westboro Baptist Church does arrive, they’ll be kept 300 to 500 feet away from the function.

Despite widespread disapproval of the church – which rose to fame by carrying signs saying “God hates fags” to the funerals of service members – some are saying the executive action goes too far, like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The ACLU released a statement, “Governor Jindal’s Executive Order… is misguided and has the potential to be used to infringe on protestors’ First Amendment rights.”

In 2011, the Supreme Court ruled on the Westboro Baptist Church’s protests, deciding they were protected under the first amendment. The court also ruled that “buffer zones” to keep protesters at a distance and allow families to grieve, like the one in Louisiana law, were legal.

ACLU executive director Marjorie Esman explained, this makes Jindal’s new order “unnecessary.”

“There is no need for the executive order unless its intent is to undermine the law of the land.”

According to the Hill, Bobby Jindal wrote in the document that “any action by any individual or group to in any way disrupt, interfere, or cause additional suffering during this time of mourning is unconscionable and morally reprehensible.”

The mandate is designed to ensure that protesters cannot congregate at the funeral location two hours before the event and will not be allowed in until two hours afterwards. Likewise, police will arrest Westboro Church Members who attempt to block the funeral route based on Bobby Jindal’s order.

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