The U.S. Senate has passed the controversial "hate crimes" bill.

The CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA ^ | 25 June, 2004 | The CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA

[Salem]

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C E N T E R A L E R T

C E N T E R F O R R E C L A I M I N G A M E R I C A

6/25/2004

The U.S. Senate has passed the controversial "hate crimes" bill that could now lead to the criminalization of Christian beliefs and practices.

Please click here for a full report from the Center's research team:

http://www.reclaimamerica.org/Pages/News/newspage.asp?story=1761

The outrageous passage of this legislation -- called the "Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act" and passed as an amendment to a defense bill -- has moved us to call on every Center Alert team member across the nation to take immediate action with us in three very important ways:

+ + ACTION ITEM #1: SIGN OUR PETITION

In the wake of the Senate vote, we are finalizing plans for an emergency petition delivery to key leaders in the House, and we would like to include your name in the delivery.

Please take a moment to sign our "Petition To Protect Our Families And Children":

http://www.cfra.info/63/petition.asp?RID=1722168

+ + ACTION ITEM #2: CALL YOUR SENATOR TODAY!

Passage of this bill could have a profound effect on Christians and their families; that's why we are asking you to call your two senators today. If you live in Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington, or Pennsylvania, one or both of your senators sponsored this bill (Sens. Smith, Kennedy, Murray, Cantwell, and Specter).

Your two senators:

Sen. Sessions -- (202) 224-4124

Sen. Shelby -- (202) 224-5744

When you call, mention that you are part of the Center for Reclaiming America’s online team, and ask what your Senator's position was on the "hate crimes" vote -- which took place on June 15, 2004. If he/she supported it, we urge you to express your disappointment:

If your senator opposed the bill, thank him or her for having the courage to stand against another radical attack against traditional family values and beliefs.

+ + ACTION ITEM #3: CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, and HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER TOM DELAY

Just this week, the defense bill that this amendment was attached to passed in the Senate on a vote of 97-0. That means the next step for this legislation is the House, and it’s imperative that Christians contact their representatives urging them not to support such legislation. The House defense authorization bill is H.R. 4200. Make sure your representative knows that you do not support any hate crimes amendment to H.R. 4200.

To contact your Representative:

http://www.reclaimamerica.org/contactCongress.asp?lk=house OR Call the Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

We also ask that you contact House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, urging him not to allow this legislation to come to a vote. This legislation cannot move without his permission.

To reach his office: 202-225-5951 (phone) 202-225-5241 (fax)

You can also e-mail his office at:

http://www.majorityleader.gov/CONTACT.ASP?a=form

Thank you in advance for your immediate action!

D. James Kennedy, Ph.D., Founder CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA

P.S. After signing our "Petition To Protect Our Families And Children," please call your two senators and representative today. And be sure to read our full report from the Center's research team, along with other updates:

http://www.reclaimamerica.org

+ + Sign the "Petition To Protect Our Families":

http://www.cfra.info/63/petition.asp?RID=1722168

+ + Canadian charged with "hate speech" for Bible verses:

http://www.reclaimamerica.org/Pages/News/newspage.asp?story=1799

+ + Australian pastor arrested for "hate speech":

http://www.reclaimamerica.org/pages/NEWS/newspage.asp?story=1338

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The CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA, established by Dr. D. James Kennedy, is an outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries to inform the American public and motivate Christians to defend and implement the biblical principles on which our country was founded. The CENTER provides non-partisan, non- denominational information, training, and support to all those interested in impacting the culture and renewing the vision set forth by our Founding Fathers.

Questions? cfra@coralridge.org

[freekitty]

You mean we can't say anything about anything. Pretty soon we will have people reporting people. Welcome to Nazi Land or Communist Land, whichever you prefer.

[American in Israel]

Thought Police, George Orwell was a prophet?!

Funny how they are not lining up to silence the "Religion of piece" as it chops off heads and blows up children. I guess it is not hate, when they hate who you hate.

[arjay]

Bump for later reading

[little jeremiah]

Here are links to recent articles about this bill - at least one of them has the text of the bill, and the last link has a list of all the Senators who votes for it:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1160062/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1157520/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1155843/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1154411/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1154850/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1154114/posts

[graycamel]

I just read the amendment from the senate. I'm generally against hate crime laws. If we are going that route, why not a hate crime law against robbers who hate people with more money than them, or maybe politicians that hate people with more money than other people. That being said all you people are overreacting. There is no evil intent in this bill. Here's a pull quote:

IN GENERAL.--Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person-- ``(i) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and ``(ii) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if-- ``(I) death results from the offense; or ``(II) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

There's nothing about telling someone it's wrong to be gay. I guess maybe they'll charge you with attempted kidnapping?

[graycamel]

I read the amendment. There's nothing in there even alluding to the idea of arresting those who tell people it's wrong to be a homosexual. You are full of bologna.

[zip]

ping

[CindyDawg]

Read it again. There must be something piggybacked or porkish there about something. Just on principle, anything coming out of this senate no good. :')

[little jeremiah]

I certainly haven't said it's a Hate SPEECH bill. It's Hate CRIMES. The deal is they added "sexual orientation" to the list of victims that are more special than other victims.

So, IOW, if someone beats up a homosexual, it is a hate crime. If someone beats up my old mother, it is not a hate crime.

That's hateful.

It also is a small hop, skip and a jump from Hate Crimes to Hate Speech, and from Speech to Thought. It's already at Hate Speech in Canada, and Hate Thought in France. At any rate, Homophobia is now illegal in France.

And if people think it won't happen here, ten years ago you would have said (maybe did say) "it can't happen here" about stuff that's already happened.

[graycamel]

At any rate, Homophobia is now illegal in France.

Of course it's outlawed there. They (gays) are maybe 75% of the French population.

[graycamel]

piggybacked or porkish

Not even Canadian bacon nor salami.

[little jeremiah]

A BILL To provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The incidence of violence motivated by the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, or disability of the victim poses a serious national problem.

(2) Such violence disrupts the tranquility and safety of communities and is deeply divisive.

(3) State and local authorities are now and will continue to be responsible for prosecuting the overwhelming majority of violent crimes in the United States, including violent crimes motivated by bias. These authorities can carry out their responsibilities more effectively with greater Federal assistance.

(4) Existing Federal law is inadequate to address this problem.

(5) The prominent characteristic of a violent crime motivated by bias is that it devastates not just the actual victim and the family and friends of the victim, but frequently savages the community sharing the traits that caused the victim to be selected.

(6) Such violence substantially affects interstate commerce in many ways, including--

(A) by impeding the movement of members of targeted groups and forcing such members to move across State lines to escape the incidence or risk of such violence; and

(B) by preventing members of targeted groups from purchasing goods and services, obtaining or sustaining employment, or participating in other commercial activity.

(7) Perpetrators cross State lines to commit such violence.

(8) Channels, facilities, and instrumentalities of interstate commerce are used to facilitate the commission of such violence.

(9) Such violence is committed using articles that have traveled in interstate commerce.

ETC ETC ETC


See the words "sexual orientation" in there?

That's what they added. It is now (or will be if it gets past the House and GW's desk) a worse crime to assault etc homosexuals than to assault a normal person.

And that's unnatural.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

What's so "patriotic" about the Patriot Act in the first place?

[familyop]

Until now, fisticuffs resulting in minor damage were misdemeanor offenses, for the most part--not prison offenses. Laws like this criminalize too much of the population. Such laws are made by very small men. It's a stupid law with nasty agendas behind it.

[my4kidsdad]

I agree....back in 1993 or 1994 I had a conversation with a fellow Christian regarding same sex marriage and back then I believed it was DECADES away - boy was I wrong!!

We also discussed the possibility that pedophilia would no longer be considered a mental illness by the APA. I stated that it wouldn't happen in our lifetime. In 2003 (as posted on FR numerous times) the APA debated the issue.

Hate Crimes now, Hate Speech & Thought soon???

[DelurkingFreeper]

The U.S. Senate has passed the controversial "hate crimes" bill that could now lead to the criminalization of Christian beliefs and practices.

How so? The bill reads in part like this:

attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person.

Since when is causing bodily injury to people different than you a Christian act? It actually protects Christians and those of other religions from being beaten up for their beliefs. What Christian belief or practice does this bill criminalize?

[DelurkingFreeper]

So, IOW, if someone beats up a homosexual, it is a hate crime. If someone beats up my old mother, it is not a hate crime.

No, because it also says you can't beat someone up based on gender. So if they beat her up because she's a woman, that's a hate crime. If she's disabled in any way, it's a double hate crime, as the disabled are protected in there too.

[familyop]

"You are full of bologna."

"Hate crimes" laws are a usual first step toward "hate speech" laws. The same groups in other formerly western culture countries took the same "gradualist" steps. BTW...been any roundups of hundreds of homosexual professionals and public officials in McClelland Park on the south end of that filthy town to the south of you, lately?

[backhoe]

From my files:

Letter to the Editors, Washington Times, circa fall, 1998:

---

In the waning hours of the 105th Congress, quiet efforts to pass controversial legislation are under way.

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act... cites violence based on sexual orientation as a Hate Crime.

Hate Crimes have commonly been racially motivated. Only in Canada has sexual orientation been included in anti-hate and human rights legislation. The Canadian law does not focus exclusively on physical violence-- it includes all forms of communication as well.

...As a Canadian living in the United States, I fear for your freedom, mainly because you take it for granted.

If my words were published in a Canadian newspaper... I would be charged with inciting hate under the criminal code.

Freedom of speech no longer exists in Canada-- I could not state that AIDS is largely found within the homosexual community, nor quote statistics to back up my assertion.
My opinion would make me a criminal. Since "tolerance" has been redefined... only Political Correctness is tolerated...

The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a signifigant foot in the door for homosexual rights lobbyists-- it validates the entire... movement as an endangered group in need of special legislative protection.

Violence against any person is already illegal, no matter what the motive.

I find it offensive that violence is noteworthy only when the victim ( is)... a member of some political action group.

Susan Mayhew
Herndon, Virginia

[familyop]

I wonder if most of the same Senators voted against the Marriage Amendment. Campbell voted against it if I remember correctly, and in favor of the bill this thread's about.

If so, a national education effort might be easy enough.