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"A group of pro-life activists has filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block a new law allowing buffer zones at abortion clinics across New Hampshire.Click here to view News 9\u2019s report.Clinics will be given the choice to set up a buffer zone that would keep activists up to 25 feet away from their facilities.The people behind the lawsuit said the buffer zone impedes on their right to free speech.\u201CMy clients usually try to interact with people on a personal one-to-one level who are considering abortion and they explain the abortion alternatives to them,\u201D said Michael Tierney, who represents pro-life activists.Activists often pray and demonstrate around clinics.\u201CThe constitutional protections of free speech are greatest on the public sidewalks, and people should not have their rights to free speech to talk to whomever they please about whatever issue they want to talk about, restricted on the public sidewalk,\u201D Tierney said.The Supreme Court recently struck down a similar law in Massachusetts, but pro-choice supporters said the law is needed because they are concerned about women\u2019s safety and the law would protect them from harassment and potential violence.Tierney said his clients are peaceful.\u201CThere are existing laws on the books that would prevent violence,\u201D he said.Although centers are authorized to set up safety zones, they don\u2019t necessarily have to. A Planned Parenthood spokesperson said, right now they have no intentions of setting up a buffer zone.\u201CTo date, no center has posted buffer zones and to do so, our legislation requires the center to interact with local officials first,\u201D said William Hinkle of Gov. Maggie Hassan\u2019s office.Hinkle said New Hampshire\u2019s law is different than Massachusetts\u2019 law and gives individual clinics the flexibility to set up their own buffer zone depending on their needs."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wmur.com/article/lawsuit-filed-to-stop-buffer-zones-for-abortion-clinics-in-new-hampshire/5191625>