Protesters outside abortion clinics in the state — including Planned Parenthood on Commonwealth Avenue near Packard’s Corner — will have to stand nearly twice as far away after Gov. Deval Patrick signed the Buffer Zone bill into law yesterday.
Lawmakers said the law will protect the right of women to seek abortions without fear of harassment while upholding the right of abortion opponents to assemble. The bill received widespread support in the House of Representatives and the Senate last month.
“We’re here to sign a bill that strikes an appropriate balance between the freedom of choice and freedom of speech,” Patrick said at the signing.
In addition to increasing the buffer zone from 18 to 35 feet, the law eliminates the “bubble zone” that has allowed protesters to push through the buffer zone as long as they remain six feet away from patients and employees entering and exiting the clinics.
“This so-called bubble is the most unenforceable way of protecting these people,” Patrick said. “The old law was so nebulous, confusing and vague, and it needed to change.”
The bubble made enforcing the buffer zone difficult, said Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts President and CEO Diane Luby.
“When people are coming to our building, it’s hard to see who is a patient, who is their escort and who is a protester,” Luby said.
“Everyone knows that this law is important,” said Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston). “In no way does this law infringe upon freedom of speech, and, thus, I am confident that this law will be upheld by any court in Massachusetts.”
“It is common sense to create legislation which provides protection to women seeking healthcare and their healthcare providers,” said Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth).
Before yesterday, crossing the buffer zone resulted in a misdemeanor offense, which called for up to $500 in fines and three months in jail. After the second offense, violators faced fines up to $5,000 and two-and-a-half years in prison.
Some lawmakers have expressed concern over extending the buffer zone too far.
“Do the abortion clinics want to pay taxes on those sidewalks? Because now we’re making them their property,” said Rep. Colleen Garry (D-Dracut) in a November Daily Free Press article. “In the real world, is a buffer zone going to prevent a crazed man from going in anywhere and murdering someone?”