Tucson , Arizona ( CNN ) -- Arizona Gov . Jan Brewer signed emergency legislation Tuesday that bars protests within 300 feet of a funeral and within an hour from its beginning or end . Earlier in the day , the state legislature passed the measure , which targets a Kansas church whose members announced they plan to picket the funerals of the victims of Saturday 's shootings in Tucson . `` Such despicable acts of emotional terrorism will not be tolerated in the State of Arizona , '' Brewer said in a statement announcing she had signed the bill . `` This legislation will assure that the victims of Saturday 's tragic shooting in Tucson will be laid to rest in peace with the full dignity and respect that they deserve . '' The legislation makes protesting too near a funeral a misdemeanor in the state . It went into effect immediately upon Brewer 's signing it . The action is in direct response to the Westboro Baptist Church 's announcement that it will picket the funeral of Christina Green , the 9-year-old who was among six people killed during Saturday 's attempted assassination of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , D-Arizona . The controversial church , based in Topeka , has made its name by staging protests at funerals of people who died of AIDS , gay people , soldiers and even Coretta Scott King . The church was founded by Fred Phelps , 80 , and most of its members are members of his extended family . `` Today we have joined together to provide some small measure of comfort for families grieving over the lost of a loved one , '' said Democratic state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema . `` During times of grief , families should be free from harassment or intimidation . This law does the right thing by protecting those families . '' `` Protesting or picketing outside the funeral of an innocent victim is despicable , '' said Republican state House Speaker Kirk Adams . `` It 's time to bring Arizona in line with the many other states that protect the sensitivities of victims against groups that use fear and hate to denigrate the lives of Americans . '' Within hours of the church 's announcements , Facebook groups sprang up to plan actions surrounding the funerals that would keep the church members separate from the mourners . Tucson just is n't that kind of town , says Christin Gilmer , 26 , referring to the actions of the church . `` For something like this to happen in Tucson was a really big shock to us all , '' she said . `` Our nightmare happened when we saw Westboro Baptist Church was going to picket the funerals . '' Gilmer and others are planning an `` angel action '' -- with 8-by-10-foot `` angel wings '' worn by participants to shield mourners from picketers . Angel actions were created by Coloradan Romaine Patterson , who was shocked to find the Topeka church and its multicolored signs outside the 1999 funeral of Matthew Shepard , a young gay man beaten and left on a fence to die in Laramie , Wyoming . The angel action is part of a larger effort , organized by Chelsea Cohen , a 20-year-old University of Arizona senior , aimed at showing what she said are Tucson 's true colors . `` Once I heard that the Westboro Baptist Church was coming , I felt like something should be done to show support for the families , '' she said . `` I do n't have any experience in organizing these things . I thought I might get 50 to 100 people . '' `` This is n't a counter-protest , '' she said . `` We wanted it to show support for the families and to show that Tucson is there with love and support . '' The groups do n't want to interfere with the funeral in any way , Cohen said . `` We plan on being completely silent , and we 're asking people not to bring signs or make comments about the Westboro Baptist Church , '' she said . Jeff Rogers , chairman of the Pima County Democratic Party , said Tuesday that his organization as well as the local Republican Party also will ask people to line the funeral routes to form a barricade if the church follows through on its planned protest . Westboro Baptist Church spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper , daughter of Fred Phelps , provided CNN with a statement detailing their decision to picket the funerals . It is filled with anti-gay , anti-abortion and anti-divorce rhetoric that members have used in the past to justify their pickets -- that God hates America because it has turned its back on what they see as God 's way . `` We picket the funerals to make these vital points to the living ! '' Phelps-Roper said . `` If you heed , it is life and health and peace and safety . `` God sent the shooter ! '' the statement continued . `` Praise God for ALL his works , and BE YE THANKFUL ! . '' CNN 's Alyse Shorland and Kevin Bohn contributed to this report .
NEW : Gov . Christie's approval rating is at a new low of 35 percent, and his disapproval rating has jumped to 55 percent. Westboro Baptist Church says the shootings are God 's punishment for disobedience . Legislation bars protesters within 300 feet of services . Groups plan to also shield families from potential picketers .