Posts Tagged ‘buffer zone laws’
Buffer zone challenged in Pittsburgh
A U.S. District Court heard arguments this week challenging a Pittsburgh, PA abortion clinic buffer zone ordinance containing two provisions: a 15-foot buffer zone around entrances to health care facilities, and an 8-foot personal bubble zone to prohibit protestors from approaching patients and health care workers. Mary Kathryn Brown filed the lawsuit claiming that the…
Read MoreMassachusetts Governor Signs Buffer Zone Law
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a law Tuesday expanding the buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities to 35 feet. In 2000, the state passed a law, which designated a “floating” zone of 6 feet, within a larger radius of 18 feet, inside which no one may approach a patient entering a clinic without her…
Read MoreEditorial Supports Massachusetts Buffer Zone
The Boston Globe ran an editorial in support of proposed state legislation that would create a fixed 35-foot buffer zone around reproductive health care clinic entrances. The bill would also eliminate the vague consent language present in the current law, which creates a “floating” zone of 6 feet, within a larger radius of 18 feet,…
Read MoreMassachusetts Senate Passes Expanded Buffer Zone Bill
The Massachusetts Senate passed a bill yesterday which would establish a 35-foot no-protest zone around reproductive health care clinics beginning where clinic property ends. Currently, the state has an 18-foot buffer zone, but anti-abortion protesters continue to harass and intimidate patients. In some cases, protesters have even dressed as police officers and deceived patients. NAF…
Read MoreExpanded Buffer Zones Needed in Massachusetts
Dianne Williamson’s column in Sunday’s Worcester Telegram & Gazette demonstrates the need for an expanded buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities in Massachusetts. Under the current law, there is an 18-foot buffer zone around reproductive heath care facilities, but protesters may be within the buffer zone as long as they remain at least six…
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