I do not agree with a hate crimes bill.  We need to enforce the law that is already on the books.  This particular bill will add a Homosexual lifestyle to the existing law.   The judicial system is supposed to be blind when it comes to enforcing the laws.  Murder is murder.  Hate, or disrespect for life is involved in all murders.

The final bill would prohibit crimes based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person

I believe that this law would soon prohibit churches from preaching that the immoral lifestyle is a sin and against God’s law.   The churches will be accused of teaching hate.

This could not pass on a bill by itself, but must be included in a Defense spending bill.

From the pages of CQ Daily

Hate Crimes Expansion on Verge of Final Passage

After a decade-long battle, Congress is on the verge of expanding federal hate crimes law to cover offenses based on sexual orientation.

The hate crimes provision is attached to a fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill that the Senate is expected to send President Obama by day’s end.

Sponsors of the legislation had repeatedly attached it to the must-pass defense authorization bill in past years, but it was invariably stripped out in before final passage in the face of opposition from the Bush administration.

Both sides say larger Democratic majorities in each chamber and the vocal support of the Obama administration made the difference this year. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. testified in support of the measure before the Senate Judiciary Committee in June.

“It makes such a difference when the administration and the nation’s top lawyer testify in support of it,” said Allison Herwitt, a lobbyist for the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for gay, bisexual and transgender rights, said earlier this month.

Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin , D-Mich., said the inclusion of the provision “is a fitting tribute” for the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy , D-Mass., who had been its longtime champion.

The provision’s progress is not necessarily welcome news for all congressional Democrats. On Oct. 6, 22 House Democrats voted in favor of a GOP motion to instruct defense bill conferees to strip out the language, and 17 Democrats voted against a stand-alone version of the hate crimes bill that the House passed in April.

The Democratic opponents come mostly from conservative Midwestern and Southern districts.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats praised the provision. Michael Bennet , D-Colo., said it would ensure “that our nation’s enduring principles apply to all Americans.”

The final bill would prohibit crimes based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person.

It also would authorize support for the criminal investigation and prosecution of hate crimes by state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials and would prohibit attacks on U.S. military personnel based on their military service.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 at 9:25 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.