COLUMBIA ? A bill pending in the South Carolina Legislature would not stop a Kansas church from protesting at military funerals, carrying signs such as "God hates cripple soldiers" and "Don't worship the dead."

Rebekah Phelps-Bavis, who is a member and an attorney for Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, said Tuesday the church members think God is punishing America for its acceptance of gays by "killing" service members.

Although the 100-member church has not protested at any funeral here, lawmakers want to join those in about 30 other states across the nation who are considering legislation to shield grieving families from the protesters and their signs.

The Kansas church says its reason for protesting the funerals is to get those who attend to repent for their sins.

The bill needs final approval from the House, which is expected today. A similar bill is pending in the Senate.

"We will continue to deliver this message at the funeral of these dead soldiers as long as God continues to deem that to be his choice to show this nation that he is pouring his wrath out," Phelps- Bavis said.

"No law is going to stop us from delivering the message of God to this nation. ... When your son or daughter comes home in a body bag, that is a curse from God. There is no turning back. This nation has crossed the line. This nation is doomed."

Rep. Wallace Scarborough, R-Charleston, one of 35 sponsors of the bill, said lawmakers want to avoid having the family of a fallen South Carolina service members be victimized by the Kansas church.

"Funerals are sacred things," he said. "People go there to mourn and to honor the person's life. You don't politicize someone's death."

The bill would make it illegal for a person to disturb a funeral service intentionally or maliciously and carries a $100 fine or 30 days in jail. It says protesters must stay at least 1,000 feet away from any ceremony, procession, memorial or cemetery during a service. Legislatures in a handful of states in the South and Midwest, including Kansas, already have passed similar laws.

Bob Shannon, command master chief with the Charleston Naval Weapons Station, said he would "defend to my death a citizen's right to protest," but a funeral might not be the appropriate place to do it. He supports the bill.

The legislation complements a national group called Patriot Guard Riders, which formed in November in response to the Kansas church, said spokesman Kurt Mayer.

It has more than 27,000 members, including many bikers and veterans, who attend the same funeral services and provide visual shields between the Kansas protesters and the families.

The group averages 100 members with as many as 600 at a single funeral compared to the 10 to 15 representatives from the Kansas church, Mayer said.

He said the members do not interact with any protesters. The church members shout to those attending the funerals, targeting the families, dragging American flags through the dirt and holding other signs that say Americans should thank God for "maimed" service members and for the devastation of Sept. 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina.

Vi Cooper of Sumter, who is state captain for Patriot Guard Riders, said the group has about 500 members in the state. The legislation is necessary even though the church has not protested a South Carolina military funeral, she said.

"What's to stop them from coming here? No one should have to go through that let alone our fallen heroes," Cooper said.

Reach Yvonne M. Wenger at 745-5891 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.