Peter Kearney: Buffer Zone Bill will take ‘a sledgehammer to civil liberties’ Earlier this week the Daily Record covered the debate set to take place among MSP’s on whether to have “Buffer Zones” around abortion clinics. A Bill proposed by Green MSP Gillian MacKay would criminalise any action aimed at persuading someone not to access abortion or to consider an alternative, within 200 metres of premises carrying out abortions. It would become illegal, to: act in a way designed to influence decisions, hand out leaflets, hold up banners or placards or pray audibly. Incredibly, praying silently would also be criminalised. ...