Decisions, decisions.

On what basis should the State intervene to prevent citizens suffering a bad experience?  Should it be determined by (1) the severity of the experience, (2) the motive behind those causing it, or (3) how often it occurs?  I ask because the Home Secretary has decided that protests outside abortion clinics will not be banned.  Now you may have views for or against this, but what struck me was the basis on which he made his decision, which was that the number of such protests was proportionately small.  I cannot imagine what goes through a woman's mind when she attends such a clinic, but can only think it must be an unpleasant, emotional experience.  I would therefore think that reasons 1 and 2 should take priority.  But what the Home Sec seems to be saying is "Sorry if you were upset, but then, this isn't something which happens very often, so you'll just have to put up with it".  And personally, I don't think that's the right approach.