SPRINGFIELD - After 20-year-old Brian Romines died while on duty in Baghdad, Iraq, soldiers arrived at his parents' Southern Illinois home at 9:40 p.m. to break the news.

"That night when the military showed up at my doorstep, it was the worst time in my life," said Randy Romines, Brian's father. "I have never felt so much pain in my life, and it does not end, it does not end."

The Romines of Simpson would soon receive more bad news.

At their son's June 18 funeral, the Romines had to deal with protesters, who showed up at the funeral holding signs reading "Thank God for dead soldiers."

"Everybody who came to his funeral had to see these people stomping on the flag, which was very near to my son's heart, blowing their nose on it," Romines said. "I couldn't understand it. Why anybody would want to protest somebody who had been in a war and fought for his country, who fought for their damn rights?"

Legislation that would prohibit protesting within 200 feet of any funeral for 30 minutes before and after the service won House committee approval Wednesday.

State Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Norris City, sponsor of the bill, said the proposal is in response to a specific group, The Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. Church members have held protests during several funerals in Illinois, including one last Friday.

The church members believe soldiers' deaths in Iraq are God's wrath for the United States condoning homosexuality.

The American Civil Liberties Union is concerned the legislation goes too far.

"We have specific technical issues in terms of making this bill constitutionally sound and to fairly protect the rights of those who do want to protest the war and other issues," said Ngozi Okorafor, ACLU of Illinois representative.

The legislation is House Bill 4532.

Crystal Lindell can be reached at crystal.lindell@;lee.net or 789-0865.