Posted on 10/06/2004 6:32:42 AM PDT by truthandlife
The House of Representatives has voted to urge a conference committee to add "sexual orientation, gender and disability" to federal hate-crimes law, a development some observers say would muzzle Christians who speak out against homosexuality.
On Sept. 28, the House voted 213-186 to pass a procedural motion encouraging a conference committee to include the hate-crimes legislation in the final version of the Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 4200).
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In June, Sens. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., introduced the new language meant to protect homosexuals as an amendment to the Senate's version of the Defense Authorization Act. The Senate measured passed by a vote of 65-33.
The bill imposes special fines for those who commit a "hate crime" against a protected class and provides federal assistance to those prosecuting such crimes. Existing hate-crimes law provides federal help to states and localities in prosecuting crimes based only on the victim's race, religion or national origin.
Christian activists believe that if passed and signed into law, the legislation could be used to target Americans who voice their opposition to the homosexual lifestyle – including pastors preaching and reading the Bible.
"Passage would literally throw open the door to attacks against people of faith, who could be prosecuted with federal monies for expressing their views on homosexuality!" warns Gary Cass, executive director of the Center for Reclaiming America.
Bob Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute, says if it becomes law the legislation could be used to "muzzle public discussion of homosexuality and even someday silence pastors."
Knight commented, "It's a very dangerous bill, because it adds 'sexual orientation' to hate-crimes law, and it greatly expands federal jurisdiction.
"If your grandmother is mugged, it won't be a big deal [unless she is a lesbian]," Knight said. "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. Both deserve protection, but certainly the gay guy doesn't deserve more than your grandmother."
Wrote Knight in a WorldNetDaily column: "Homosexual activists have redefined any opposition to homosexuality as 'hate speech.' Laws already criminalize speech that incites violence. It's easy to imagine a scenario in which any incident involving a homosexual can be blamed on people who have publicly opposed homosexual activism."
Because it offers special protection to specific class of people, the legislation "violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution," Cass stated.
The Human Rights Campaign hailed last week's House vote.
"Congress should work to protect Americans, not discriminate against them," said HRC President Cheryl Jacques. "We laud Congress for this vote, especially Minority Leader Pelosi for offering this motion and working to get the overwhelming support of her peers. We urge conference committee members to take it to heart – keep the federal hate-crimes bill in conference committee."
According to HRC, the House passed a similar motion in September 2000 by a 232-192 vote, but that amendment was removed in conference committee. The homosexual-advocacy group claims the new hate-crimes language has been endorsed by more than 175 law-enforcement, civil-rights, civic and religious organizations.
As WorldNetDaily reported, a new law was passed in Canada that adds sexual orientation as a protected category in the nation's genocide and hate-crimes legislation, which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison.
Opponents of the new law fear the Bible will be deemed "hate literature" under the criminal code in certain instances, as evidenced by the case of a Saskatchewan man fined by a provincial human-rights tribunal for taking out a newspaper ad with Scripture references to verses about homosexuality.
Earlier this year in Sweden, which also has strict hate-crimes laws, a pastor was arrested at his church after he began reading Bible verses condemning homosexuality.
Some states have included sexual orientation in their state hate-crimes laws. Last month, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill expanding that state's statute to include not only homosexuals and transgendered people but also people who merely associate with those who are part of a protected class.
"While every hate crime represents a personal tragedy for the victim, hate crimes also are an attempt to intimidate a larger group or community of people," the bills' author, Senator Sheila Kuehl, told 365gay.com. "Hate crimes tear at the fabric of our society and it is important that we have a strong and effective response to them."
In Pennsyvlania, pastors are concerned they could be targeted under that state's new hate-crimes law, which added "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as motives that trigger heavier penalties for the crime of "harassment."
The Center for Reclaiming America is urging citizens to contact the House members and senators who are on the conference committee to ask them to remove the hate-crimes language from the final bill.
A spokeswoman from the House Armed Services Committee told WND the conference committee's goal is to finalize the bill by Friday, the day Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the month.
Move over, Canada. Here comes the United States.
They better kill this hate crimes law.........all crimes are equal.
They better? LOL!
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.
Who is the guy that posts the *gee not this s#@t again* gif? It may be needed here.
That is true as well as:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Plus, the law lacks jurisdiction within the boundaries of sovereign state.
Congress only has legislative jurisdiction within the boundaries of sovereign state through Article I, Sec 8, Cl 3 (commerce clause) and Sec 17 (federaaly purchased state land with consent of the state).
So, if as a Christian or as any other citizen, you are "charged" with a federal "hate crime," be sure to first have the court prove jurisdiction (which the court will not be able to do) before you enter a plea.
Then when the charges are dropped, sue the arresting officer and prosecutor.
All "hate crime" legislation should be done away with. All it accomplishes is to create Protected Classes. A crime is a crime no matter who is victimized.
Well, lemme see. We have 235,000 groups out there that oppose the federal government's violation of Amendment 14, Amendemt 9, and Amendment 10.
Good thing we have the Enumerated Powers Act in place. Such a Bill will be stripped faster than Candy Barr at a hobo convention.
< /sarc
ping!
So if someone kills a child molester it will be a federal crime with stiffer penalties than if the child molester kills the child?
There are certain connected groups that MUST be loved by all BY LAW.
Homosexual Agenda Ping - Haven't had time to read this yet, will later.
Can anyone clarify whether this hate CRIMES bill includes hate SPEECH mention? Maybe I'll figure it out after reading the article... ;-)
Hate Crimes laws is the first step, and Hate Speech laws next. Then there's madatory "education" and "therapy" and then child abuse means growing up with parents who teach and enforce traditional religious morality.
Let Scripter and me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.
Right. Especially if the child molester is a homo child molester (as many are).
Finally read the article. I don't know, I'm getting discouraged the last few days. Lost my normal background mood of good cheer. Schwarzenegger is really nauseating me. I admit I didn't vote for him, but that is no consolation.
When I lived in OR, I never voted for Gordon Smith, although I would have if his seat was in jeopardy since even a RINO is better than a regular ThugDemocrat.
But now I'm not so clear about it. The socially liberal RINOS are part of the enemy within.
"It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen." --Herodotus
Thanks. I like Churchill's statement about fighting for the right - if you know that one, want to put it up? I have a file of inspiring quotes but being in the process of trying to fix my computer, I put them somewhere and can't find them.
Here's a good one that the Federalist sent out today:
"A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely
overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the
common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be
subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready
to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal
invader." --Samuel Adams
Your posts always inspire me, lj. So when you feel defeated, just remember that you need to stay strong for the others of us who are fighting this battle with you.
Welcome to the world of Kerry/Kennedy. Think about it, All of our founding fathers would be fined and/or imprisoned for their views on sodomites.
Noah webster would be imprisoned for his dictionary!
Not merely the validity of experience but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy. The heresy of heresies was common sense. George Orwell - 1984. On the Thought Police.
I second that. Thanks lj for your time and hard work. keep up the good fight.
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