Posted on 05/27/2004 6:19:31 PM PDT by take
U.S. Hate Crime Bill Could Criminalize Biblical Truth, Pro-Family Spokesman Fears
(AgapePress) - A controversial hate crimes bill has been resurrected on Capitol Hill -- this time under Republican leadership. The Culture and Family Institute (CFI) says the legislation is being pushed by the homosexual lobby, which is emboldened following the court-ordered legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts.
Two U.S. Senate Republicans have introduced the new legislation, the language of which is virtually the same as that in an earlier attempt by liberal lawmakers to put a hate crimes law on the books -- an effort that was defeated. However, this newly introduced bill would attach "sexual orientation" to the language of the previous bill.
Bob Knight CFI director Bob Knight believes conservatives need to be wary about the proposal. "Even though this bill is sponsored by Gordon Smith and Orrin Hatch -- both Republicans -- it's really the old Kennedy hate crimes bill that's been resurrected. And it's a very dangerous bill, because it adds 'sexual orientation' to hate crimes law, and it greatly expands federal jurisdiction," Knight says.
Also, the pro-family spokesman is concerned that the proposed law would require law enforcers to give priority to investigating and prosecuting crimes against homosexuals. "So if your grandmother is mugged," he posits for example, "it won't be a big deal, and the law enforcement authorities may have to put more of their revenues toward the mugging, say, of a homosexual guy walking down the street. Now both deserve protection, but certainly the gay guy doesn't deserve more than your grandmother."
Another major worry is that the hate crimes bill proposed by Smith and Hatch, if passed, will put the First Amendment rights of Christians at risk, making them subject to prosecution simply for expressing biblical views about the homosexual lifestyle. Knight notes that such a bill has already been approved by lawmakers in Canada, where he fully expects it to "muzzle public discussion of homosexuality and even someday silence pastors."
Current Canadian federal law forbids anyone from publishing materials or speaking in any way that could result in the "incitement of hatred and genocide" against certain specified groups. By adding "sexual orientation" to that list, Knight says Canada's lawmakers may have set up grounds for prosecuting anyone who criticizes homosexuality. And that is what he fears may happen in the U.S. if the legislation proposed by Smith and Hatch is approved.
The Canadian bill does contain a religious exemption in the "hate speech" section of Canada's Criminal Code. But in a recent news release, the Christian Coalition Inc. of Canada (CCIC) noted that the exemption places the burden of proof on the accused and is too vague and open to interpretation to serve as an adequate defense against charges of hate speech.
In a disturbing example of the implications of this bill, CCIC cited a Saskatchewan court case in which the Bible was determined to be hate literature. There, the Canadian court upheld a fine against a Saskatoon newspaper publisher and a man who placed an ad listing Bible verses about homosexuality.
Knight says the logical next step in the process of advancing hate crime legislation in America will be to criminalize free speech and thought. Should U.S. lawmakers pass a hate crimes bill that includes sexual orientation, he fears it will be used to give homosexuals special status as a protected group, while Christians' who express biblical views against the homosexual lifestyle end up as "fair game."
There are two parts to a crime in American juridprudence - mens rea (guilty mind) and actus rea (guilty act). The mens rea is not motive, rather it is intent.
I was thinking we have really come a long way down the slippery slope of criminalizing ideas. Look at the bottom of your screen here at FR, "no racism in posts". Why? One can argue, as I would, that racist theory is discredited, ignorant and potentially dangerous but does that give me the right to forbid it's discussion or criminalize someone that holds those views? You could say all those same things about Communism but we still have the American Communist Party.
And, of course, they cite the specific clauses of the legislation that lead them to this conclusion...
Oh, wait, they don't.
But would Hatch vote against a bill he sponsored?
Even if this law passed, it would still be legal to say hateful and threatening things to or about white, heterosexual Christians, particularly men.
This bill would shut down virtually every conservative website, and close every conservative newspaper and magazine, because it would then be illegal to even make a critical comment about the "protected classes."
If you've been paying attention, Orrin Hatch has gone crazy within the last 18 months or so. He has been exceptionally liberal on most social issues, including the immigration problem.
Although there's a revolution brewing in the Utah Republican party, it will not immediately affect Orrin--the fight is over Chris Cannon's House seat re-nomination. Cannon will be forced to run in a Pubbie primary, not what he expected.
This (like the Specter affair) will have SOME consequences in the "thought" pattern of Hatch, we hope.
"What is wrong with Orin Hatch?"
I am utterly coinvinced that the Dems have some real juicy dirt on Orin Hatch.
"What is wrong with Orin Hatch?"
I am utterly convinced that the Dems have some real juicy dirt on Orin Hatch.
...who run transnational manufacturing companies.
The Bill is S.16. Although it specifically criminalizes violent assaults on the basis of a list of motivations, it authorizes fed assistance to State prosecutions and grants for studies on how to reduce hate crimes. The folks that are going to get this money and create the studies are going to promote homo activities as normal and recommend that anything to the contrary amounts to promoting hate crime. That means anyone who tells their boys, grandkids...ect, that playing with puds is bad will be targeted for, or hit with sanction.
Here's an example of who will get the cash and create the rubbish.
Well, whatever you do on FR, DO NOT HINT that GWB is a "Big-Gummint" Republican. You can expect to be flamed off the site by the Bushbot gang.
It said link was invalid use...??
Uhhhhhnnhhh...
You forget the spectre of HRC in the background and HER Attorney-General.
HRC has already classified anti-abortion protesters as "terrorists." This DOES have implications, and it's one of the reasons why certain principled conservatives are a bit nervous about the Patriot Act (as interpreted by the next Dimowit Administration...)
Look at the list of Senators who voted NOT to convict Clinton.
You can bet your family that the FBI files had a great deal to do with the voting, and they are still out there.
Still think HRC's Presidential aspirations are nutso dreams?
Thanks. I will get back to you about pinging probably once I get a little more organized. (This has been a tough week for me!) But thanks again!
I didn't want to bring this up on this board, but here goes:
This week an 18 wheeler truck struck and totaled my small two-seater car. I am bruised and shaken, but apparently not seriously hurt. That was, among other things, a "wake-up call." Duing my life, I have known the absolute pain of not feeling Jesus' presence, and the grace that comes with knowing Him and his message. Although I am far, far from as good or religious a person as I could be, although I try. I don't quite have the strength to go into detail about my specific beliefs, but I do hope those that have not found the comfort and salvation that I have will somehow find it, soon.
I will not allow Christians to be persecuted in my country, at the very least.
Thank you for your reminder, also.
The so called Neo-conservatives are essentially liberals in social/economic issues, and only conservative about defense. Unfortunately the neocons have hijacked the Bush White House.
More of the same. Reps are doing a great job of getting legislation passed that dems would not be able to and dems are doing the same.
More proof that they are all scum of the earth.
Jesus Saves, and is going to return someday to collect His true believers.
I've had about all I can take of these RINOS, I swear.
Just what in the hell are we fighting for/against when we look around & realize we're rotting from the inside-out.
These clowns are promoting & pushing through the Liberal-Socialist's legislation for them.
What the hell is going on?
The Republican Party is messing with the primal forces of nature permitting these RINO imbeciles to run amok as they have.
First it's the idiot Specter from PA, next King from NY, then these two morons pop up with this kind of baloney.
What's next, or, is this the nuts & bolts of the vaunted "Compassionate Conservatism" we hear so much about?
These RINOS better get their heads outa their asses & realize the Liberal-Socialist *machine* will dispose of them the instant they're finished having them carry their water for 'em.
...I'm flat-out fedup with this crap.
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