The Lakewood City Council had a study session on December 17, 2007 at 7:00 PM in the Cabinet Room in the Civic Center. The first item up for discussion was what to do about Gary Meggison's request that the city council pass a ordinance to keep the Pro Life Picketers from picketing in his neighborhood.

I could not hear all of the discussion because the public gets to sit behind the council members and listen but they don't have microphones. However, the subject was introduced by Ward 5 councilwoman Diana Allen. The discussion involved input from Lakewood Police and other city departments including an attorney who had some experience and knowledge with past ordinances of this type.

Ward 5 councilman Tom Quinn expressed interest in doing something to help the neighborhood and I silently agreed with him at the time. However, Ed Peterson, Doug Anderson, Adam Paul and Vicki Stack expressed dissent on the issue. They all had a sympathetic attitude toward the neighborhood but felt that it was a 1st amendment issue which made it difficult for them to do anything meaningful.

Although nothing final was announced, I'd be really surprised if they decided to take up the issue again.

When I returned home I spent much of the rest of the night Googling the pro life issues and Weitz Company, and in the end, I decided that the only course of action to keep these folks out of your neighborhood is not work for or live by anyone that has anything whatsoever to do with Planned Parenthood, and if you do then I recommend purchasing a large ranch in mountains to live in.

The people involved with the prolife movement like Eric Schneidler, Thomas Brejcha, Will Duffy, Keith Mason and Bob Enyart appear to be in it for the long haul. Mr. Schneidler is a second generation pro life activist, so I'd rather be his friend rather than his picketing target. I've never been much of an activist for anything and although I'd like to see some resolutions for the targeted neighborhoods I really don't want to get into the line of fire it's simply not worth it to me.

Even if the neighbors banded together and picketed the leaders homes I don't think it would make any difference to them. I think they would just go right along doing what they firmly believe to be the right thing. If you want to learn more about them you could listen to Bob Enyart at kgov.com. He has a radio talk show on kltt radio. I don't know any of these folks personally but I did get a chance to talk with Will Duffy on the phone recently and he seems like a reasonable fellow who has dedicated his life to abolishing abortion.