text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom to Mourn in Peace Act of 
  2011''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) The greatness of America is measured in many ways but 
          nowhere is it better reflected than in the costs paid by the 
          men and women who voluntarily assumed the risk of defending the 
          freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and who, without 
          reluctance or mental reservation, made the supreme sacrifice 
          for their country.
              (2) It is altogether fitting and proper for the friends and 
          families of those fallen in battle to be able to mourn their 
          loss in peace and take comfort and pride in the consolation 
          that comes from the certain knowledge that they laid so costly 
          a sacrifice on the altar of freedom.
              (3) That to secure this temporary but hallowed moment of 
          peace, reflection, and healing, it is appropriate to place 
          reasonable restrictions on those individuals and groups who 
          seek to use the occasion of a funeral, burial, or memorial 
          service of a veteran to stage a public demonstration intended 
          to turn a private gathering of private persons into a public 
          spectacle for the unconscionable purpose of attracting public 
          attention and gratuitously inflicting unnecessary emotional 
          pain on the deceased veteran's families and friends.
              (4) Funerals, memorial services, and bereavement ceremonies 
          are special events warranting special respect for the deceased 
          and due regard for the emotional well-being of the bereaved 
          whose memories of the final moments before their loved one is 
          laid to rest may be permanently stained were the occasion 
          allowed to be exploited by others for the purpose of attracting 
          public attention by the intentional infliction of emotional 
          distress on the loved ones of the deceased.
              (5) The First Amendment that veterans risked their lives to 
          defend and preserve is broad and strong enough to protect 
          vigorous and robust public debate on public issues and generous 
          enough to accommodate the natural desire and need of relatives 
          and loved ones to be free to mourn their loss in peace.
  
  SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON DEMONSTRATIONS WHERE FUNERALS, MEMORIAL 
                SERVICES, AND CEREMONIES FOR VETERANS ARE HELD.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 2413 of title 38, United States Code, is 
  amended to read as follows:
  ``Sec. 2413. Prohibition on demonstrations where a funeral, memorial 
                service, or other bereavement ceremony for a veteran is 
                held
      ``(a) Prohibition.--No person may carry out--
              ``(1) a demonstration on the property where a funeral for a 
          veteran is held unless the demonstration has been approved by 
          the cemetery superintendent or the owner of the property on 
          which the funeral is held; or
              ``(2) with respect to such a cemetery or other property on 
          which a funeral is held, a demonstration during the period 
          beginning 60 minutes before and ending 60 minutes after such 
          funeral, any part of which demonstration--
                      ``(A)(i) takes place within 150 feet of a road, 
                  pathway, or other route of ingress to or egress from 
                  such cemetery or other property; and
                      ``(ii) includes, as part of such demonstration, any 
                  individual willfully making or assisting in the making 
                  of any noise or diversion that disturbs or tends to 
                  disturb the peace or good order of the funeral; or
                      ``(B) is within 1,000 feet of such cemetery or 
                  other property and impedes the access to or egress from 
                  such cemetery or other property,
  if there is visible, at each place that is at the applicable distance 
  specified in this sentence from such cemetery or other property, a sign 
  which clearly and conspicuously states that a funeral will be held on 
  such cemetery or other property and so states the time interval during 
  which the funeral will be held.
      ``(b) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
              ``(1) The term `demonstration' includes the following:
                      ``(A) Any picketing or similar conduct.
                      ``(B) Any oration, speech, use of sound 
                  amplification equipment or device, or similar conduct 
                  that is not part of a funeral.
                      ``(C) The display of any placard, banner, flag, or 
                  similar device, unless such a display is part of a 
                  funeral.
                      ``(D) The distribution of any handbill, pamphlet, 
                  leaflet, or other written or printed matter other than 
                  a program distributed as part of a funeral.
              ``(2) The term `funeral' includes a memorial service or any 
          other bereavement ceremony honoring a veteran.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  such chapter is amended by striking the item relating to section 2413 
  and inserting the following new item:
  
  ``2413. Prohibition on demonstrations where a funeral, memorial 
                              service, or other bereavement ceremony for 
                              a veteran is held.''.
target: Freedom to Mourn in Peace Act of 2011 - Expands the prohibition on demonstrations at certain funerals, memorial services, or bereavement ceremonies for a deceased veteran to any property where such a service is held unless the demonstration has been approved by the cemetery superintendent or the owner of the property on which the funeral is held. (Current law only prohibits such demonstrations on property of a cemetery under the control of the National Cemetery Administration or on the property of Arlington National Cemetery.)
  
  Extends to 1,000 feet the distance within which certain demonstrations that impede access to or egress from such a cemetery or property are prohibited during the period beginning 60 minutes before and ending 60 minutes after such a service, provided that there is a visible sign at applicable distances stating the time interval during which a service will be held.
feat_title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit demonstrations at places of mourning during a funeral, memorial service, or other bereavement ceremony honoring a deceased veteran.