Anderson said that while he wants to see the Governor's Mansion remain open to protests, prohibitions on targeting private residences are valid, and time, place and manner of limitations on free speech would be upheld by the courts.

"The First Amendment is not absolute," he said. "I don't see it as a whole lot different than the proscriptions against people screaming at women going into (abortion) clinics or demonstrating at the funerals of servicemen and servicewomen."

Still, Anderson said, he supports protests as a form of public dialogue and does not intend this ordinance to be seen as anti-animal rights or anti-protester.

"I think regardless of people's view on these things, there should be more dialogue and community discussion. But don't do it in a way that's so personally mean-spirited and destructive to quality of life in neighborhoods," he said. "This is not an expression of my position or the administration's or the council's opinion on the underlying issue" of animal rights.

For their part, Utah Primate Freedom members have said they plan to continue picketing in front of homes, even if they risk arrest. Group member Jason Rose said the protesters are already subject to a number of ordinances and laws against excessive noise, assault and trespassing, for example, and that the new rule is overkill.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com