FBI Won't Investigate Hate Crime Against Church

Focus on the Family ^ | December 9, 2003 | Steve Jordahl

[Federalist 78]

Agent allegedly ignores vandalism, threatens pastor instead.

When vandals defaced a sign outside the First Baptist Church in Gravois Mills, Mo., because it read "Homosexuality is an abomination, there is forgiveness," Pastor Ted Haynes called local law enforcement and the FBI.

The vandals actually did more than just spray paint the sign. They left obscene and intimidating messages on the church's answering machine and told a church member that if the sign wasn't removed, they would remove it.

"What I wanted to do was just get it on record, in case our church got burned down, because there is that possibility," Haynes said. "I was concerned that we should have something on the record — that they should know about it."

Even though the incident could be classified under federal law as a hate crime, though, the FBI refused to get involved. Haynes said an agent told him he should expect a negative reaction if he was going to post such an "inflammatory" message on his sign.

"He said, 'I just want to tell you that if you do anything to these people — call them names or whatever, you'll be violating their minority constitutional rights,' " Haynes said.

FBI spokesman Jeff Lanza confirmed an agent took a phone call about the vandalism but chose not to become involved.

"Based on the information that was provided during the phone call," Lanza said, "we did not pursue further investigation."

Richard Ackerman, an attorney with the Pro-family Law Center, said it is unbelievable that the FBI would side with the vandals.

"These people are vandalizing this guy's sign because they don't like the religious message on it," he said, "If anybody's committed a hate crime, it's the people who damaged the signs."

There is a glimmer of good news for Haynes, though: Local law enforcement officials are following up on the vandalism charges.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about the issue of hate crimes, please read the Citizen magazine feature "The Hate Crimes Express," by Matt Kaufman.

[Federalist 78]

The sodomite victims become the victimizers that they have always been and will always be - Homosexual Agenda Index of Links.

 

[Texas_Jarhead]

"He said, 'I just want to tell you that if you do anything to these people — call them names or whatever, you'll be violating their minority constitutional rights,' "

Looks like the agent's indoctrination, err, sensitivity training was a success.

[Poohbah]

Could someone explain why this is any sort of federal crime, within the jurisdiction of the FBI?

[Humidston]

What's up is down, what's down is up.....

Clock's ticking folks.

[Pete]

Could someone explain why this is any sort of federal crime, within the jurisdiction of the FBI?

It falls under federal hate crimes legislation. Since it violates a federal law, it would be within the jurisdiction of the FBI.

[RLK]

Your all-new FBI in action supporting political correctness.

[RaceBannon]

where we stand today

[Onelifetogive]

Could someone explain why this is any sort of federal crime, within the jurisdiction of the FBI?

I think it falls under the "defacing a sign" clause in the Constitution. There is one of those...right???

[Prime Choice]

Of course, had this vandalism happened to a mosque, the town would be crawling with agents right about now...

[BenLurkin]

This can't be real.

[Poohbah]

It's a penumbra of an emanation...

[Texas_Jarhead]

beat ya to it

[Onelifetogive]

It's a penumbra of an emanation...

Yeah...it seems to be full of those...

[FReepaholic]

>>...an agent told him he should expect a negative reaction if he was going to post such an "inflammatory" message on his sign...<<

So, using this FBI agent's reasoning, a woman should EXPECT to be raped if she wears suggestive clothing.

What a moron.

[Blood of Tyrants]

"He said, 'I just want to tell you that if you do anything to these people — call them names or whatever, you'll be violating their minority constitutional rights,' "

Excuse me, but my copy of the Constitution doesn't have anything of the sort.

[ladyinred]

"He said, 'I just want to tell you that if you do anything to these people — call them names or whatever, you'll be violating their minority constitutional rights,' " Haynes said.

This is just amazing! The thugs can destroy private property, but the property holders are the ones who are the criminals? All for posting a Biblical message!!!

Outrageous!

[longtermmemmory]

The homosexual bishop had/has federal protection.

[Federalist 78]

Pastor finds FBI unresponsive to homosexual activists' threats - ...

Haynes attended the Missouri Baptist Convention's annual meeting in St. Louis Nov. 3-5, "but something told me I should go home," he said. "When I got home, I learned that someone had spray-painted our sign. I contacted the Morgan County Sheriff's office, and they suggested that I contact the FBI."

Haynes said he was referred to the FBI because county authorities felt it could be classified a federal hate crime.