A new bipartisan bill was introduced in the US Congress on Tuesday that seeks to create 100-foot buffer zones around places of worship to protect people from harassment and intimidation. The legislation would make it a federal crime to harass, intimidate, or threaten individuals within 100 feet of any church, synagogue, mosque, temple, gurdwara, or other house of worship.
The bill is designed to cover all religious communities, with specific mention of Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras, reflecting growing concerns among South Asian religious groups in the United States. Supporters say the measure is needed because worshippers have increasingly faced verbal abuse, aggressive protests, and intimidation right outside their places of prayer. They argue that people should be able to attend religious services without fear of confrontation or disruption.
The proposed 100-foot safety zone would apply to the entrances and immediate surroundings of religious buildings. Anyone violating the buffer zone by engaging in threatening behavior could face federal charges. The bill has support from both Democrats and Republicans, which is relatively rare on issues involving restrictions near public spaces. Lawmakers behind the proposal say it strikes a balance between protecting religious freedom and respecting First Amendment rights.
This is not the first time buffer zones have been proposed in the US, but this version stands out because it specifically includes a wide range of faiths and addresses rising incidents reported by Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Jewish communities in recent years.
The legislation is still in its very early stages. It will need to go through committee hearings, markups, and votes in both the House and the Senate before it can reach the president’s desk. For now, the bill represents a notable bipartisan attempt to address what some lawmakers describe as a growing problem of religious intolerance showing up at the doorstep of American places of worship.
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