Senator,
Please do all you can to put a stop to the "Hate Crimes" amendment SA 2067 to the Defense bill (HR 1585).
This amendment is unnecessary as there are already laws on the books that deal with violent actions against people. This amendment is also unrelated to the defense budget.
I value equal protection for all victims of crimes, and "Hate Crimes" legislation in any form does NOT accomplish this.
Instead, laws currently on the books should be enforced and it is unnecessary to create more division by preferential law enforcement for one group over another.
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Thank you for your message regarding hate crimes. I appreciate hearing from you.
Fair and equal treatment of all Americans is a cornerstone of our society and our political system. Unfortunately, despite great progress, the struggle for civil rights and equal treatment under the law continues today for many citizens. Individuals should not have to live in fear for their lives simply because of their sexual orientation or race. We must not, by our silence, condone the tragic and brutal acts of hate-based violence too often directed at people simply because they are members of a particular segment of our society.
I am a cosponsor of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. This legislation would provide a mechanism for prosecuting hate crimes at the federal level and would provide federal assistance to state and local jurisdictions as they seek to prosecute hate crimes.
This measure will not prevent individuals from exercising their First Amendment rights that guarantee freedom of speech and religion. Speech alone cannot trigger a charge of a hate crime. Only violent crimes can be hate crimes under this legislation. Also, the legislation does not offer special protections to anyone. It simply seeks to increase the penalties for those individuals who perpetrate violent crimes against someone because of factors such as race or sexual orientation.
Thank you once again for sharing your concerns with me. Feel free to stay in touch.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
Senator Durbin,
Sir, thank you for your response to my earlier message asking you to drop your sponsorship and support of "Hate Crimes" bills and amendments.
Concerning your response:
"...the legislation does not offer special protections to anyone. It simply seeks to increase the penalties for those individuals who perpetrate violent crimes against someone because of factors such as race or sexual orientation."
If that isn't double-speak that I don't know what is. How can having special punishment for a crime based on who the victim is not be 'special protection'.
According to this line of thinking, a crime against a helpless child, woman, disabled person, homeless person, or elderly would have a lighter punishment than that against a physically capable 30-year old male.
All violent crimes are wrong regardless to motivation or victim, and all perpetrators of violent crimes should be punished, period.
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