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H.R. 256, The David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009
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Concerned Christian
February 8, 2009, 6:35am (report abuse)Why should anyone who has a crime commited against them be treated better than ANYONE ELSE just because of their sexual orientation?
Christian Nation
February 24, 2009, 9:42pm (report abuse)ALL crimes are borne of hate. Robbers hate that they're broke, rapists hate themselves, killers hate the world.
Laws are already in place for every crime, we don't need to make special laws against alledgedly violating peoples fetishes. Laws are also in place protecting those born with birth defects, thus the homosexual, lesbian, bi/transgender victims are already protected.
dale L. Bohling
February 24, 2009, 10:42pm (report abuse)so much for our "equal protection" clause of the constitution . This kind of legislation sets apart certain citizens for extra consideration under the law. It creates a "special"citizenry class in America.Why should some be ,in effect, "more equal than others"?
Kaylie
February 25, 2009, 4:51am (report abuse)Yeah, we so don't need hate crime legislation, we should be getting rid of it. Someone really needs to get rid of the current protected classes which are: race, color, religion, or nation origin
Helga
February 25, 2009, 6:13pm (report abuse)Such hate laws in Europe and elsewhere are design to protect only one ethnic/religious group known to everyone!
They are racist in the first place.
Laureate
February 26, 2009, 12:08pm (report abuse)Remember, this is not about Democrats or Republicans here... this is about all politicians taking advantage of legitimate issues and turning it into something completely different. Take for example the Patriot act under President Bush OR Megan's law under President Clinton. Terrorism and internet content control were both legitimate issues to deal with, but look at what we got out of it... OPPRESSION. Use your freedom of speech and call in... tell them what you think... say yes or no to HR 256. Saying nothing is simply unacceptable. We need change, but it is NOT up to ANY president to ensure that happens. It is up to YOU! The people!
Bawa
March 18, 2009, 12:42am (report abuse)This bill might work in Europe or elsewre, but it looks in total contradiction to US Bill of Rigth, freedom of speech and religioious freedom.
This, for sure, would criminalize my pastor for preaching a sermon on 1 Corinthians 6: 9 which says "...homosexual offenders will not inherit the kingdom of God."
jbomb
April 20, 2009, 12:18pm (report abuse)every person of faith should fully support such laws because we should all be solidly against any commission of a crime BECAUSE of a person's race, faith, etc. These sort of crimes are DIFFERENT in the community wide harm that they cause and punishment should be enhanced due to the enhanced harm. The fact that male homosexuality is wrong has nothing to do with it. All Christians should condemn anyone who would committ a crime on someone because they are gay.
expresser
April 21, 2009, 11:04pm (report abuse)As an evangelical, I do not believe be the specific wording of this bill, nor the definition of a Hate CRime under the 1994 Act that authorized Federal legistlation for Hate Crimes will necessarily itself cause any concern for pastor and ministers who under the Free Speech clause of the US Constitution express their religious opposition towards those of any sexual orientation. I am afraid about the continuing drive to catagorize and classify everyone into groups, rather than treat the individual as individuals and let them bear the full burden and weight of responsibility for their actions regardless. All murder and assault is hateful and we should be equally vigelent and act swiftly and justly against any assault of our fellow citizens no matter what class anyone puts them in.
Porter
April 27, 2009, 3:12pm (report abuse)Ya what the hell, this aint a free country anymore anyway.
Jesus loves sinners, not sin
May 6, 2009, 7:30am (report abuse)Hate is a crime. Love your enemies is love.God is a title fit for Him. Normal is fear of Gays' Gay people hate too. They hate anyone that is not for thier agenda. That should be in the language of this bill. Look at what they are saying about Miss Cali. This gay judge Paris? who came out and called her names like if he was still in H.S. give me a break, don't start to say that his venting is his frustation of coming out of the closet, Plz!!!!!!!!!!!!! They hate has much as anyone who commits a crime.Stop with it with the frase I'm special because I'm gay! No! love your enemies even if the have an opinion different than yours' Don't hate congradulate! Many gay people don't even want to get married because it is a normal idea, and comes from straight people.Being gay is not trying to be normal is just the opposite.
Ashley
May 6, 2009, 11:06am (report abuse)How about a bill that really protects our children from pedophiles. They have more rights than law abiding citizens!!!
Tyson
May 7, 2009, 2:18pm (report abuse)Are you people out of your minds? "Special classes"? Minorities are "more equal than others"? Tell that to any black, gay, hispanic, woman, immigrant, Muslim or Jew and they will laugh in your face. Where is this pedestal that we put them up on? I'd like to see it. Show it to me. You are disconnected from reality, locked up in your white, Christian little world and it pisses me off. I am no expert and I can't particularly tell if this legislation is a good idea on the whole. We would all need some instruction and a good amount of time to study it to know what its exact implications are. But I did read in it that the only punishable offense under this act is the an act of violence ... an ACT of violence. Not words, actions. Also interesting to me is its preoccupation with 'commerce', meaning that there appears to be more concern over goods getting over borders than with racists killing people.
Don't be blind to the suffering of minorities in this country.
Brad
May 7, 2009, 2:59pm (report abuse)What Tyson said. The law creates "special classes" because of the special violence against those classes. I'm guessing some of the hate that spawns that violence lives in the hearts of a few posters here. However, while I acknowledge the violence against historical minorities in the US, I don't in general support "hate crime" enhancements. I agree with the purpose, but I don't like the way the law assumes intent. Violence is still a crime, and enhancements don't deter anyone in my opinion. They do however make legislators look like they are addressing the issue.
Virginia Hoge
May 13, 2009, 12:25pm (report abuse)This is GREAT news!!!
I have been the victim of a cyber bully and let me tell you, someone attacking you with graphic sexual references (and having a million people read it), and doing so as who-knows-who,
isn’t a lot of fun, but neither is it right!
and so I applaud the authors of this bill, its about time!!
Veegee
May 19, 2009, 2:43pm (report abuse)The passage of this bill will mark the end of free speech in America!
wade99
June 2, 2009, 11:25am (report abuse)I support this bill in that it provides protection to individuals from extremist evangelists who seek to justify intolerance and hate with their religious beliefs, such as those who seem to have commented here...
Wells
June 30, 2009, 11:38am (report abuse)Seems wade99 supports arresting preachers who teach that homosexuality is immoral.
taytc
July 15, 2009, 8:55am (report abuse)Hate crimes should be punished and when this bill says because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person... that could apply to anyone that could be a hate crime against a man because he is a christian, a woman because she is black, a child because he is white, or even a person because they are straight. It is not limited to minorities. I fail to see the problem with protecting all citizens from hate crime.