Why Hate Crimes Legislation isn't what you may think.

Do we really need HATE CRIMES Legislation? I think not.

Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) filed their "hate crimes" legislation for consideration as an amendment to the Department of Defense reauthorization bill that is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate.

On the surface, “hate crimes” legislation sounds ok to most people – after all – we don’t want anyone to “hate” another person, right? But don't be fooled by what seems like a harmless attempt to punish criminals. Let's really take a look at what’s going on here.

I think you'll agree that in actuality, this proposed amendment has nothing to do with stopping hate. What’s actually going ON here is an attempt to outlaw certain “politically incorrect” THOUGHTS, BELIEFS and IDEAS.

Sound far-fetched? Think about it – we ALREADY HAVE LAWS ON THE BOOKS against assault, and other crimes against people and property. These legislators want to add another “layer” to these crimes that would make certain THOUGHTS or OPINIONS of the person who committed the crime – to hold a bigger punishment. Still think that sounds ok? Read on…..

Here’s a fictitious example to show the hidden danger of this proposed amendment: (we'll pick on gays, since that's a large part of the hidden agenda here, but it could apply to many other examples as well)....

We'll use two major characters in our story. An 80 year-0ld woman and a 20-year old skinhead. Both of these two people disagree with a homosexual man’s lifestyle. The 80-year old lady wouldn’t hurt a fly. She feels homosexuality is wrong based on her religious beliefs. She acts on her BELIEFS by praying for the homosexual man. The 20-year old skinhead acts on his BELIEFS by beating up the gay man. (different actions, same BELIEFS).

Across town, a straight man beats up another straight man in a bar fight. Both the skinhead and the straight man in the bar are arrested for the assault each of them committed against two different victims. (which, of course, is already an illegal crime).

If this amendment were to pass, the new "hate crimes" law would treat these two men quite differently – even thought they committed virtually the same crime. The 20 year-old man who assaulted the gay man would be prosecuted for a FEDERAL crime – simply because of the thoughts, beliefs, and ideas he held about that man he assaulted. The other man would be prosecuted in his local jurisdiction for the “normal” crime of assault.

So if the skinhead’s THOUGHTS AND IDEAS made him guilty of a worse crime – isn’t the 80-year old woman guilty of having those same THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS? (she didn’t commit a "currently illegal" act, she just holds the same THOUGHTS AND IDEAS about homosexuality as the skinhead). Sounds like a “slippery slope” of religious persecution to me, just waiting to happen.

If we increase penalties simply because of the THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS of the person committing the crime, aren’t we in essence making those THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS a crime too?

Please call your Federal Senators on TODAY to ask them to vote AGAINST this dangerous legislation. Then, educate your friends and neighbors about why this proposal that “feels good” is actually a set-up for censorship and discrimination against religious freedom, or any other group who wants to claim this type of protection.

Who’s to say that some day – a crime of violence wouldn’t be necessary to have been committed to be prosecuted for having THOUGHTS, IDEAS AND BELIEFS that are considered “politically incorrect.” (like disagreeing with homosexuality, or any number of THOUGHTS, BELIEFS AND IDEAS)?

Last time I checked – it was still OK to disagree with homosexuality, or to hold any opinion you want. There are ALREADY LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT MAKE CRIMES AGAINST PEOPLE ILLEGAL. We don't need to make THOUGHTS, BELIEFS, AND IDEAS a crime too.

No more laws are necessary. And we don’t need the “thought police” watching us to be sure we don’t disagree with certain “tolerated” lifestyles, or “fill in the blank” idea that comes up next.

P.S. Here’s what Family Research Council had to say about it today:

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Kennedy/Smith vs. the Constitution
Yesterday, in close alliance with the Human Rights Campaign, Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) filed their "hate crimes" legislation for consideration as an amendment to the Department of Defense reauthorization that is currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. The "hate crimes" amendment has numerous problems that should raise concerns for all Americans. First off this bill would usurp the jurisdiction of state and local governments and would federalize each and every state and local crime of violence, so long as there exists the possibility that the crime was motivated by "hate," as defined under this bill. Secondly this bill attacks religious liberty. Current federal law allows an individual to be prosecuted as an "accessory" to a crime, or if the individual somehow "incited" violence. Thus, if a preacher were to denounce the act of homosexuality as a sin and someone who heard him committed a violent crime towards a homosexual it is plausible that the pastor could be charged with inciting violence or as an accessory to the crime. Lastly, but far from least, the concept of "hate crimes" destroys the principle that all men are created equal, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. All human beings should be valued the same regardless of what "category" that person defines himself in. Please contact your U.S. senators TODAY and tell them to vote against the Kennedy/Smith hate crimes amendment.