U.S. House backs hate crime measure protecting gays

Reuters ^ | 9-14-2005 | Joanne Kenen

[COEXERJ145]

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday unexpectedly backed a measure to expand federal hate crime protection to gay people, a measure that House conservatives had blocked for years.

The Senate has passed similar legislation, which also expanded protections for the disabled, several times in recent years but House conservatives had argued that these cases should be dealt with on a local or state level without additional federal intervention.

This time the hate crime measure was attached to a bipartisan bill known as the Children's Safety Act aimed at tightening reporting requirements for child sex offenders. Companion legislation has not yet moved through the Senate, so the ultimate fate of the gay protection provision is uncertain.

Still backers were jubilant.

[johnb838]

When do they start jailing my pastors for reading from the Bible?

Experts agree they'll be fine as long as they don't read the parts that condemn homosexuality. Many denominations just skip those parts to stay out of trouble already.

[GOPologist]

I looked at the lists of the way Congress voted. I saw no "Harris" under YEA. I did see the name "Harris" under NOES.

How many are named, "Harris?"

[GOPologist]

I'm confused. If I say something in public that is called a hate-crime, then I am guilty of breaking a law.

My confusion is that I am simply expressing my opinion. If my opinion is illegal, then there are a lot of people in this country who express opinions everyday.

[little jeremiah]

Yes, I think there's still hope. But we also need divine help. One way or another.

[little jeremiah]

It makes you wonder - do they think we're stoopid, don't care, will get so we like it, or what?

[little jeremiah]

In Huxley's "Brave New World" the word "mother" was a dirty, despicable word.

[little jeremiah]

Can you ping me when you receive the reply?

Thanks.

[WoofDog123]

ref: 1984, by George Orwell
or alternately, the current 'incitement of hatred' laws in the uk

[right-wingin_It]

Get ready. We are approaching the point where discussion is pointless. In fact it leads straight to jail. Canada blew on past this point without a fight apparently. We will fight.

I wonder what would happen if a bunch of us FReepers exercised some U.S. free speech over in Canada on the issue, and then get fined, and then refuse to pay. Would we would go to Canadian prison? Like the lad that got flogged over in Singapore, it would make for one hell of an scene for the media. Of course, the media would have a real tough choice which way to slant the story, because on the one hand it's a first amendment type issue, but on the other hand its some "hate crime" BS story. They would probably side with Canadian's "superior system" in terms of tolerance. sarc

[tomkat]

Homosexuality is a fetish biologically self-negating, not a lifestyle.

There, this thread needed some good news.
 

[quietolong]

This is not all it does

U.S. HOUSE BANS GUN POSSESSION BY SEX OFFENDERS (VPC EMAIL)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1484802/posts

[mlc9852]

So are so right!

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Weird votes on both sides.

Mike Pence votes for it...and Steve Chabot...but Dennis Kucinich and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones against??

---

That's the final vote on the law as a whole, not on the gay-hates-crime amendment. The ultraliberals voted against the law as a whole for some other reason. Most conservatives voted for the law as a whole because I guess it had enough good stuff in it thatthey didn't want to kill it over the hates-crime provision.

[Gipper08]

Yes,Pence voted against the CONYERS amendment but voted for overall passage because he wanted to pass his child porn amendment.

PENCE AMENDMENT ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY PREVENTION PASSES HOUSE



Pence speech




Washington, Sep 14 - Congressman Mike Pence’s amendment to the Children’s Safety Act of 2005, aimed at cracking down on child pornographers, specifically so-called ‘home pornographers’ who create illegal child pornography using their home computers, was adopted today in the U.S. House of Representatives. Pence made the following remarks during debate on his amendment:

“While this legislation today is very much about using the force of federal law to confront child predators, we know that the fuel that fires the wicked hearts of child predators is child pornography.

“My amendment, which is drawn from the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 2005, is designed to give law enforcement the tools to stop child pornography at the source. It will fix a glaring loophole in the current law by requiring pornographers to keep records of the names and ages of their subjects and proof of identification. This requirement, we believe, will deter the use of underage children in pornography.

“Additionally, pornographers will be required to allow law enforcement to inspect their records and failure to do so will be a criminal offense. We also in this legislation extend federal jurisdiction to so-called ‘home pornographers’ that use downloading on the Internet and digital and Polaroid photography to essentially create an at-home cottage industry for child pornography.

“It’s time to protect our children, it’s time to enact the Pence amendment - the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 2005 - and make it a part of this truly landmark legislation, the Children’s Safety Act of 2005.”

[Killborn]

This is stupid. We should make a Constitutional Ammendment outlawing "riders". Along with activist judges, this is yet another way the Communist POS shove socialism down our throats. It's the equivalent of forcing US troops to fire onto civilians to get at the terrorists. Inexcusable terrorist tactic, no surprise from the Demon party of hatred, perversion, and death.

[stratocaster42]

ChiMark you are a homophobe and I support you! Here in MA gays have rights over and above the MAJORITY, what happened to MAJORITY RULES?

Hopefully this won't cause too much trouble! I really want to know what rights gays have "over and above" the majority in MA. How could anyone have extra rights? I just want to understand.Thanks.

[SwinneySwitch]

All the Texians must have toed the party lines?

[Tribune7]

Some of the most serious libs went against it-- McDermott, Waxman, Honda, and Stark.

[Kahonek]

"Every time some scum rips off an old ladies purse they should also be charged with a hate crime."

Technically, they could be, as long as they robbed her because of her gender.

I think these sorts of laws are bad laws because they penalize motive rather than behavior, and it's often impossible to determine motive.

That said, they don't protect gay people any more than straight people. Everyone has a sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. If you're attacked because of it, these laws apply to you.

[Sandy]

Thank you for the details. Much appreciated.