Posted on 09/14/2005 4:28:18 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Thank you for taking time out to give insightful analysis.
There are republicans? Where?
How would you rank this episode on the hate crime scale:
A school teacher entered the parking garage of a shopping mall and was held up at gunpoint by 2 predators who were cruising the parking garage looking for someone to rob.
He was a well-loved private boys' school teacher of thirty years teaching experience. And I imagine instead of just handing over his wallet, or while he was handing over his wallet, he might have said something along the lines of "do you really want to ruin your life by doing this?" Whatever he said, the perp with the shotgun considered that he had been dissed and blew him away at point blank range.
The driver has just had his trial and was acquitted of first degree murder because the jury did not want to put an 18 yr old away for life! The jury agreed that the perp was guilty of what qualified him for first degree murder. So it was pure jury nullification.
I say that the beloved schoolteacher was shot because of hate. Will "hate" ever be charged against a black 'disadvantaged' yout'?
It is today in many circles like NOW, NARAL, Guttmacher Institute, etc.
I bet no public school kids [are allowed to] read Huxley anymore.
No you didn't, you might have looked up this word though..somnambulist <(•¿•)>
They will finally find the "Gay Gene" </sarcasm>
agreed!
You're welcome.
Such legislation chills free speech in many ways. First of all it chills free speech by insinuating the notion into the public's mind that it is immoral or wrong to believe that certain sexual orientations are immoral or wrong, that the heavy hand of the federal government is poised to punish those who disagree.
Second, it chills free speech because it criminalizes speech that any zealous prosecutor is willing to allege has incited, conspired, solicited, aided or abetted the underlying assault.
The conduct addressed by hate crime legislation is already unlawful. Hate crime legislation defines and establishes a new class of political criminals as defined first by their beliefs and thoughts. That is its only purpose.
Such legislation chills free speech in many ways. First of all it chills free speech by insinuating the notion into the public's mind that it is immoral or wrong to believe that certain sexual orientations are immoral or wrong, that the heavy hand of the federal government is poised to punish those who disagree.
Second, it chills free speech because it criminalizes speech that any zealous prosecutor is willing to allege has incited, conspired, solicited, aided or abetted the underlying assault.
The conduct addressed by hate crime legislation is already unlawful. Hate crime legislation defines and establishes a new class of political criminals as defined first by their beliefs and thoughts. That is its only purpose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ah, perhaps this legislation is meant to protect the the poor deranged NAMBLA types that prey upon the provocative children that lead them into hateful ACTS.
So now we can be jailed for what we are thinking? I thought this was America. Geeze it is way past time to take to the streets with the pitchforks.
First the IRS will remove the 501(c)3 of churches which preach that sodomy is an abomination and refuse to higher them on the church staff.
Remind me what the difference is between the two mainstream parties, again?
/sarcasm
They're more afraid of the viciousness of homosexual activists than they are of their constituents.
Just heard Micheal Savage say, "We're no longer the Silent Majority; we're the Silenced Majority." That's exactly what this "hate crime" garbage is trying to achieve.
Cong Boren of OK is in Dr. Tom Coburn's old district and would definitely be elected if he switched to Republican.
This country is toast.
One of our major parties acts like God doesn't exist. The other prays to Him and says move outta my way I'm running this show, I'll call ya if I need ya.
We got 9/11, a war going no where, Israel being forced to give up land to terrorist, no borders, huge trade deficit, government spending like a drunken sailor,babies being sacrificed by the thousands, Christianity and the Constitution under attack, homosexual life style being made part of the law of the land, oil prices stifling our economy and Hurricane Katrina.
Looks like we can't take a hint.
I usually don't put much store in these disaster things but if I lived in California or New York City ,I think I would consider a move to more stable surroundings in the immediate future.
Like now.
This sounds like that if he doesnt sign it, he will be called a gay basher...what a decision to make...to sign a worthless piece of legislation, or to veto it and face the wrath of the left (well...no matter what...he will get accused of hating gays)
what provision in the constitution allows congress to pass much of the legislation that is passed
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