Zach Parker, High School Senior, Writes Bill To Ban Military Protests

Zach Parker learned just weeks ago in his senior history class about bans on military funeral protests in 40 states nationwide. When given an assignment to find a political issue to write about, the 17-year-old seized the opportunity to take the legislation one step further, and drafted a bill that would ban protests nationally -- in all 50 states.

According to Maine's WABI, news of the teen's legislation proposal caught the attention of Westboro Baptist Church, a group known for protesting military funerals.

Parker presented his ideas at an open community forum Wednesday night.

WABI reported:

While the Westboro Church group did not show up for the presentation, about 200 former military members from both the VFW and American Legion were in attendance to show their support.

Now Parker's legislative ideas are beginning to reach a larger audience. The morning after his presentation, Parker appeared on "FOX & Friends" to talk about his class project.

WATCH:

According to WABI, Parker said at the presentation:

"Military protesting at funerals -- protesting against social and political that aren't really relevant to the funeral -- I think is infringing on rights to gather peacefully. [This is] about putting proposed legislation in place to protect men and women of the armed forces.
"

Legislators are listening. Both senators from Maine, Susan Collins and Olympia Snow, sent representatives to Parker's presentation.

Read more about the teen's proposal at WABI.