URGENT! The Matthew Shepard Act is at risk!

[Ian David]

from Joe Solmonese, Human Rights Campaign <[e-mail]>

The Matthew Shepard Act is at risk!
Tell your lawmakers to protect the hate crimes legislation we've worked so hard for
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/DoD_HateCrimes


I have alarming news. The Matthew Shepard Act – whose passage in the Senate and House required months of effort – is now in serious jeopardy of not making it to the President's desk.

The hate crimes legislation we've fought for has reached its final step before being sent to President Bush, but some lawmakers are working to derail it. Right now there is a very real danger that the Matthew Shepard Act won't even make it to the President for his signature or veto. If that happens, we could lose months or years of progress.

We likely have less than a week to act. Tell your lawmakers the Matthew Shepard Act must not be abandoned by the Conference Committee next week.

How can a hate crimes victory be so close and yet still so much in jeopardy?

Here's what's happening: Senate leadership employed a commonplace strategy with this bill. They calculated that the only chance of the Matthew Shepard Act surviving Bush's veto pen was if it were attached to a "must-pass" Department of Defense bill. But now that House and Senate are reconciling their versions of the DoD bill, it is under attack from anti-GLBT conservatives against hate crimes legislation, as well as progressive, pro-equality lawmakers who oppose some of the bill's provisions for the war in Iraq.

We cannot let the Matthew Shepard Act be abandoned when we have come so close to getting it to the White House! We only have a matter of days before Congress is back in session and the final decision is made. This issue is especially timely right now. Last week, the FBI reported that hate crimes rose nearly 8% last year.

You know how hard we've worked to pass the Matthew Shepard Act. Since April, hundreds of thousands of HRC supporters like you have bombarded Congress with letters and phone calls. You've enlisted friends in the fight, written to local papers, passed out postcards at events. You've given time and you've given financial support.

Don't back down now – not if you care about the safety of GLBT Americans.

Ask your Senators and Representative to make sure the Department of Defense bill passes with the Matthew Shepard Act included.

Thank you, again, for your ongoing commitment to equality and justice.

Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
President

The Matthew Shepard Act could be abandoned by Congressional leaders unless we act immediately.

Email Congress today and stand up against hate crimes.
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/DoD_HateCrimes

[abmand]

1. this is a pet peeve of mine

....hate crime legislation- what a bunch of croc. obviously if you commit a crime against someone you don't particularly like someone but that is besides the point. You know what, as much as i find it wrong, we still have a right to hate in this country- its illegal to act on it though. I still have a right to hate someone because they are black, hispanic, asian, or white. I dont have a right to harm them, and if i do, i should be charged with a crime because of my action, not on how i felt towards that person. If i beat you within an inch of your life because you happen to be black i should be charged with assault or attempted murder- not some stupid "attempted murder +" because i happen to have hurt you because i dislike your race.

ok you want to keep hate crime legislation- then a propose something equally as stupid- love crime legislation. Basically you will have a lesser penalty for any crime if the person you commit it against you either love or like. So you rob a friend, usually its 20 years for robbery but we will make it 15 years because he was your friend and you liked him. ohh heres another goody- you murder your spouse for the insurance money, it was planned so it is considered 1st degree murder, but since you still claim you loved your spouse (you just loved money more) we will take the death penalty and life sentance off the table- will give you a 25-35 year sentance. pretty stupid eh?

i know people are going to flame me for these views but this stuff just bothers me so much. I'm all for equal treatment (and think its disgusting as a species that we have to make laws to accomplish this) but hate crime legislation in my book does the opposite. you end up getting different treatment in the eyes of the law based on your beliefs. i dont care how progressive it is, its just plain wrong

[Ian David]

2. You are grossly misinformed but well-intentioned. n/t

[abmand]

3. am i?

18 U.S.C. § 245 (b)(2), enacted in 1969, permits federal prosecution of people who "by force or threat of force willfully injures, intimidates or interferes with... any person because of his race, color, religion or national origin

i think we already had a law for this ITS CALLED AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, or murder, or attempted murder or inciting violence or threatning violence. Why should it matter if you do it because you are a racist, it shouldnt. If you did it on purpose with the intent to do harm, not matter what your underlying reason is, you should be charged with a crime. I know what that matthew shephard act does, but im still dead against this legislation.

the logic behind hate crime legislation is that crimes committed due to hate (based on race or ethnicity) are more "hurtful" then "normal" crimes. I think beating the shit out of a person is hurtful enough and if you can't deal with the psychological issue that the person beat you up because you were black, then thats your problem buddy. sue the guy then for psychological damages, but he shall be charged with assault.

[Ian David]

4. I have not the time, energy, or patience to argue this with you.

I honestly believe that no fully-informed and well-intentioned person can possibly be against the hate crime legislation.

Therefore, I am assuming you are merely misinformed.

I strongly suggest you either:

1) Research this topic more. Do some searches on DU for existing threads on this topic.

2) Post your argument in its own thread, and let someone else point you in the right direction.

[elsplash]

5. "Hate Crime"

How refreshing to read something
by a person who thinks rationally.