H.R. 254 would enhance Federal enforcement of hate crimes.
Detailed Summary
David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 or David's Law - Amends the federal criminal code to impose penalties for willfully causing bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive device, attempting to cause such injury, whether or not acting under color of law, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person, where the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce.
Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes and, if appropriate, to amend the federal sentencing guidelines to provide sentencing enhancements for such an offense.
Requires the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to state and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles.
Authorizes appropriations to the Department of the Treasury and to DOJ for FY2007-FY2009 to increase the number of personnel to protect against criminal interference with federally-protected activities.
Status of the Legislation
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Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Judy
March 26, 2007, 1:32pm (report abuse)My experience is this: Everybody can speak out for any religion other than Christian, and that is okay. They can even sit in my work place and propoate (promote) homosexuality and promiscuity, which has happened. But you should see them stare daggers when the water fountain discussion turns to expressing a favorable view of the Bible and any argument that the moral code was given to us by our Creator. I am wondering how close we are to daggered-looks turning into sharp penalties and even federal law.
Dan Druk
March 28, 2007, 2:04pm (report abuse)I think some people are going way too far to think this bill has anything at all to do with infringing free speech. Get over your paranoia. But yeah, since when were any of the things listed in this bill legal? Waste of time/money in my opinion.
Phred
March 29, 2007, 4:27pm (report abuse)If you feeble morons don't like homosexuality then don't engage in it. But keep your beliefs to yourselves. Nobody needs you telling other people how to live their lives. Especially because you're under some delusion that a 4,000 year-old book tells you so. It also tells you to stone delinquents to death and that the sun revolves around the earth. So please... just shut up and keep your religious claptrap private. Then nobody's gonna have to slap you around for spreading hatred.
Cynthia
April 10, 2007, 1:37pm (report abuse)The thing that I find interesting is that the people who are against the law, obviously haven't read it. It is expanding the law to protect people against PHYSICAL violence: in it there are no such terms saying that Freedom of Speech will, or can, be taken away.
And it is funny that these Christian conservatives don't feel the same laws that protect them from violence should be offered to other people, simply because they don't believe in the same way. God loves everyone...says so in the bible; and God made each and every person unique and the way they are supposed to be...so really think about it when you are out preaching "love" and "God's word"
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 11:57am (report abuse)I'm not sure where to begin. I've read through these comments and have been trying to tame the fire of emotions within, since I do not want to come out lashing irrationally as so many of these commenters have... Look, everyone has a right to believe what they need to. You have been raised to hate a group? Fine. Sad for you, since hatred is a painful thing. You have every right to spread your believes and your feelings through SPEECH alone. To your kids, you friends, your church members. IT ENDS THERE, or at least it SHOULD.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 11:57am (report abuse)Trying to inhibit rights to homosexuals because you interpret the man-written words in your Bible to mean that homosexuals are sinners, well... such words have been miscontrude before in other groups of people. I was onced told as a child in my Babtist church that Jews were sinners and wrong... some of you still try to claim such things, while others of your very same faith admit this is untrue. I'm sorry, I'm trying to refrain from attacking the way you have attacked a group of so many people I care about, but you truly are a confused and frightened religion. Back off my friends and family who are just trying to live a life like the rest of Americans. I have more to say to a specific few of you... I'll do so when I have time.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 12:42pm (report abuse)To "lcb" - you make several points that, if I had a chip on my shoulder, I'd hug like a child hugs a snuggly/safe/warm teddy bear. You take such offense to a comparison of you deserving equal rights as much as a homosexual? I'm happy for you that you have found some peace and feeling of "equality" and "communion" among your Christian brothers and sisters. I do not poke any fun at you for this in any way; I do not oppose any faith for the feeling of hope and family and security it may provide. However, do you not realize you are lashing out at fellow human beings who are simply feared and misunderstood because they are different from you, much the same as the wrongfully judged from your past? Are you more offended and afraid to allow such a comparison because you fear to lose your status, somehow, in your currently secured communion or because you fear that if such a statement is true, you might be holding hatred wrongfully?
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 12:47pm (report abuse)Hey, Phred, I like your point about the interpretation in the past of what "God's Word" was... If anyone really does their research into religions, without a biased blockade, there are many "holes" in the system. This is why, I believe, I've met Christians of different churches who will preach different things. I once volunteered at a Christian church that provided food, shelder, games, and discussion for people with HIV/AIDS (straight and gay orientations, although the majority was gay at the time since it was nearly 8 years ago in MISSOURI). Gays were not considered to be "sinners" in that church; they believed the bible was "misinterpreted" by other christians who believed that gays were not still loved by God.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 12:53pm (report abuse)To Cynthia - I don't know if you'll come back to this page and find my comment to you or not, but I'd like to thank you for making your point. My issue with religion is not the spirituality or different beliefs that come with each one; my issue is when people use their religion as an excuse to kill, bring bodily harm, or even "just" try to wipe out or put a group in exile. If it somehow brings people peace to believe that something that scares them is hated by God, who created them in the first place (if God is who you believe in), then fine. I think that's sad and ignorant, but nobody should be told they CANNOT believe something. However, they should be refused the "right" to go spitting in people's faces and calling it "free speech", or throwing things at people or refusing people housing or employment as a method of "free speech". Speech and action are 2 different things.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 1:12pm (report abuse)I also like how "Shame on some of you" put it. Times are changing. The acceptance of homosexuality is far more wide-spread now than it was 10 years ago. I know this frightens many people...But it frightened many people in the past when Blacks were gaining equal rights. The majority of you get over it, bluntly put. Some are still out there with racism burning hot in their hearts and thoughts. Unfortunately, this will always be for every group by another group. But acceptance wins overall eventually...One way or another.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 1:17pm (report abuse)Homosexuals are not who they are by "choice", btw. Many have wished their whole lives they could just be like "you", so their lives would be easier (which is SAD, they shouldn't have to feel this way!). HELLO, they do not LOVE being hated and refused the right to marry, or raise children (in many cases). They have no choice in loving the same sex anymore than "you" choose if you love a blonde, a brunnett, a black/white/asian, etc. Fat or thin, tall or short. They hurt noone. Except maybe your personal fears. Maybe it makes you sick to see 2 old couples making out. So look away. Maybe it makes you cringe to see an overweight person in clothes that don't fit... So look away. They hurt noone.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 1:17pm (report abuse)Homosexuals hurt noone. We are who we are, or aren't. You don't have to understand it or agree with it. You don't have to "join in". But eventually, you're going to have to accept it enough so that you are not condoning the restriction of their rights as HUMAN BEINGS. As FREE AMERICANS.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 1:22pm (report abuse)Hey Tbone...you think gays are the only ones with transmitted diseases? You think they "started" it? You think they magically transmitted it to the "straight" people like some voo-doo conspiracy? Wow, they are some people people then. I'm losing my ability to remain collected here, since your statment is so full of blind hatred. There's a lot more behind the story, Tbone. I almost hate to disapoint you. Go ahead and stay in your little bubble, though, because I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to handle the real world.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 1:39pm (report abuse)Frederick, I'm confused. Are you under the impression that we are in danger of going extinct? Is the human race running low on population?
Uhm, I hope I misunderstood your comment. I don't think a homosexual's inability to produce children on their own is going to threaten the human race. We are a highly overpopulated species. If you want to get theoretical, I'll throw out a wild thought: what if God created men and women as homosexuals in effort to help control the population just a bit? Try to hinder us from popping out QUITE as many kids... You think that's a totally insane statement? Maybe, maybe not. Look in the mirror, pal. Look closely.
Mireya
April 16, 2007, 1:45pm (report abuse)Lastly for now... I'd just like ot say "WELL PUT" to Ramses413. I still say all these people have their right to think, feel, and say what they have said. But that's where it ends. I think they'd all be singing a different tune if someone cracked a code in the Bible that said somehow they were sinners...maybe by the WAY they have sex behind closed doors or by the foods they eat or because of a certain birthmark or color freckle they are born with. They have never been the object of discrimination...they have never had their rights threatened. If they have, in a REAL manner, and they still do this... I can only attribute the behavior to fear and weakness, same as always.
Katie C
April 17, 2007, 9:32pm (report abuse)Referring to Ronn's comment:
"Ronn
Unlike hate crimes against race or color, homosexuality is a behavior that people choose. Why do other Americans have to accept this behavior that they choose to engage in?"
Katie C
April 17, 2007, 9:33pm (report abuse)... Clearly you have miscompreheded the actual reasons for this updated bill to be passed. The issue at hand is NOT to force liking OR agreement on whether or not you, or any other homophobe, thinks is right, wrong, sinful, whatever to engage in homosexuality. It's merely to protect these individuals from harm, as ANY individual- gay, straight, Jewish, Christian, young, old, black, white, gray, purple, etc... SHOULD BE. Fighting for anything otherwise is your rightful choice, but in doing so, you're not just "disagreeing" with the way one leads their life. You're fighting for the right to bash someone for it. Have you ever been bashed for the way you live yours?
Katie C
April 17, 2007, 9:33pm (report abuse)... Now, as for whether or not you believe that someone is BORN a homosexual is your own rightful opinion. Believe what you wish , PLEASE. However, the big issue at hand isn't based on the fact that you or I do or don't think they can "help" it. It's the fact that you, and a majority of commenters on this site, and another majority of people in this country can't seem to handle this difference of interest. Because, really, that's all it is. Opinions, creeds, rights, wrongs... all things pushed aside. There is no issue. Homosexuality is merely a petty excuse to thrive on such individuals as yourself's fears and disagreements.
Katie C
April 17, 2007, 9:34pm (report abuse)My advice, take it or leave it, is to take some responsibility for yourself. Accepting YOUR problem is the first step, Ronn (and anybody else with these same issues).
Mireya
April 18, 2007, 11:58am (report abuse)Well-stated, Katie C!!
It's a shame there aren't more people with your rational, open mind.
Walletfullofpennies
April 26, 2007, 4:53pm (report abuse)This bill does not limit you free speech. only on harrasing people by your beleifs.
Heatherross
April 27, 2007, 1:13pm (report abuse)Unacceptable bill, you are going to incite a war within the USA that is going to make the Amercian Revolution look like a picnic in the park! Our representatives are tearing this country apart! We the people need to step in AGAIN!!!! and take over. The ones representing us have failed one to many times and I HAVE HAD IT!!!!! I am willing to fight for the reason this country was founded, I am tired of listening to them whine, and blame, these people are not worthy to represent us anymore. Liars, corruption, out with them all, I don't even want to listen to them on TV, etc. This bill is just one more wrong move by our representives. NO MORE MS> NICE GUY! We could put 10 y.o.'s in their place in Washington and they would get along!!!!! OUT WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES!!
Kaylee Bovet
May 4, 2007, 9:25am (report abuse)To be against this bill is unthinkable. To say it is ok to hate someone for there race,religion,or sexual preferances is being un American. No one should be disliked for there beliefs or background.
Mireya
May 5, 2007, 6:19am (report abuse)...Ahhh, so nice to see a couple more people who are open-minded, realistic, and HUMANE. Thanks to you who voice your disagreement with the sad/angry individuals who waste so much energy hating what they don't understand. :) It doesn't feel good to hate...too bad some people are so full of it.
DAVIS
May 5, 2007, 1:30pm (report abuse)I HEARD MOM,DAD WILL BE TAKEN OUT
OF TEXT BOOKS BECAUSE IT OFFENDS
GAYS . GAYS OFFEND ME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE,NOTHING IS DONE TO STOP THEM FROM OFFENDING US THIER GOAL IS TO DESTROY CHRISTIANITY THAT'S HATE.
Sharper
May 7, 2007, 7:12pm (report abuse)To be in favor of this bill is to say that certain groups of people deserve more protection than others.
It's a violation of the principle of equal treatment under the law.
The same crime should be punishable the same way, with no regard for the race, religion, or sexual preference of the victim.
What if they passed a law that stated that if you attacked a white male because he's a white male, you must serve extra prison time?
Sharper
May 7, 2007, 7:12pm (report abuse)(Cont.)
How about if they gave the death penalty only to people who attacked asian women?
Can you see the ridiculous discrimination that is the point of this law?
This law also leads to prosecutors attempting to prove what a criminal was thinking when they committed the crime, just to get some more years added to the sentence.
It doesn't matter what they were thinking, it matters what actions they took.
State laws to punish violent crime are just fine. There is no need for the Feds to create new crimes in order to pander to special interest groups.
Steve
May 8, 2007, 10:11am (report abuse)@ Sharper: Technically, being a caucasian male is a race or ethnicity, and if you caused said white male physical harm, this law DOES say just that.
As for the rest of you, I am sick at heart to call myself a Christian after seeing some of the comments on this site.
Yes, the Bible does say homosexuality is a sin. It also says gossip is a sin. It says that a slave rebelling against its master is a sin. It says that divorce for any reason other than marital infidelity is a sin. The point is simply that WE ARE ALL SINNERS, and will never be able to live without sin - hence Christ.
Claiming you are heaven-bound because your personal sins are perhaps more socially acceptable than a lesbian's is the height of hypocrisy. You are heaven-bound because of your faith in Christ, not because of your supposed lack of sin - just as a gay man who believes in Christ is.
Let he who hath no sin cast the first stone.
Mireya
May 9, 2007, 2:49am (report abuse)To Steve... Not all Christians pick and choose from the Bible what they wish to read and believe. I'm glad there are still Christians like you who grasp more of the whole concept of the "guidance" of the Bible... The religion is a beautiful thing, until people use it to discriminate and bend the words to fit their personal feelings of confort and "right" and "wrong".
Mireya
May 9, 2007, 2:52am (report abuse)Everyone who has posted a comment has every right to believe whatever they need to believe in order to sleep at night, so to speak... I think many of us get most frustrated when others contradict their own words and twist their own ideas and bend whatever facts are at hand, just to put themselves in a "righter" position to claim who should have human rights and who should not. This bill isn't isolating gays to have special treatment. It's clarifying that they are included rather than EXCLUDED from the same right to be free of harm as everyone else.
Mireya
May 9, 2007, 2:58am (report abuse)Maybe the bill won't do much. Maybe it will. But to try to resist it ONLY because it is now INCLUDING gays in the list that was presented in a previously passed bill... Common people. This is about your dislike for GAYS and possibly your fear that it won't be easy to get off the hook if someone harrasses them, beats them or kills them for their sexuality. You don't have to like them. But they are human and deserve the same protection as any of you. Try to fight for your rights to practice your beliefs without inhibiting other's rights to live and love openly whom their hearts desire.
Reverend Blowhard
May 9, 2007, 6:24am (report abuse)I don't believe the prosecution of a crime should be more severe because others assume they knew what you were thinking.
I’m not much interested in the spiritual entertainers (a.k.a. preachers) ability to leverage what feels odd to garner support. Religion is a confidence scam, if people want to feed deadbeats like preachers, that’s fine. You have to be pretty stupid to let someone con you into thinking they have special connections with gods anyway. Somehow those all powerful supernatural creatures (a.k.a. gods) always need extra cash!
To police on the basis of your thoughts is thought police. Everyone should be entitled to think and say what they like.
Mercator
May 9, 2007, 11:43am (report abuse)This is not a Christian Nation. It allows for tolerance of multiple religions. When your Religion actively campaigns to limit the freedoms of those who don't believe as you do then your are forcing your beliefs on others. That is wrong. I have no problem with you if you belief in the Bible, or the Koran, etc. If it guides you, gives you hope, who has the right to tell you that you are wrong. Keep it to yourself and realize that your almost as Atheist as I am, you just believe in one more God than me. There is a difference between being tolerant of other peoples religions, and being indifferent.
Mercator
May 9, 2007, 11:53am (report abuse)One more thing. I do not agree with this legislation as culture determines what is acceptable little by little. I don't think there should be MORE penalties to someone engaged in hate crimes. They are still crimes. Does it make regular assaults any more acceptable? Punish for the crime, understand the reason and educate.
Oh and some people are born Homosexual. Ever seen Who's the Boss? C'mon.. that kid was obviously gay at 6 years old. No one can stop you from thinking what you want, but be prepared when you see how unacceptable it is to resort to violence to enforce your religion.
Norrin
May 9, 2007, 1:08pm (report abuse)There is no point to this legislation, any crime directed at an individual is either done by the perpetrator to gain something or is done out of hate. Labeling something a "hate crime" just points out again our differences rather than underscoring that we are all human beings living in the same country.
Jenn
May 10, 2007, 9:55am (report abuse)Respectfully, I disagree with this bill. Hating innocent people and committing a crime against them for any reason is reprehensible - but a crime is a crime is a crime. Decent people would agree that murdering someone because they are gay and murdering someone for money are both wrong - but how could you judge one as worse than the other?! Both deserve the stiffest penalties.
Criminalizing certain crimes as worse than others due to personal belief leads down a slippery slope. We should not criminalize thought - it is just too Orwellian and is creepy.
Mireya
May 21, 2007, 5:12pm (report abuse)Good points (last few), but I must be missing something. I don't see that this bill is trying to enforce MORE punishment to a crime than any other crime... Seems to me it's trying to equlize it, since sometimes crimes are overlooked a bit when it's to a black, a gay, a lower-class person... I could be wrong, but my interpretation after READING the bill in full was that it was merely including certain groups to have equal right to justice as everyone else...?
RickyP
May 23, 2007, 12:54pm (report abuse)While you may consider homosexuality to be a sin, that has absolutely no consequence in law. Not all Christian morals appear in law, yet they exist anyway. The purpose of government is not to legislate morality, but to enforce social contracts. To deny social contracts to anyone because of their sexual orientation is to deny them a place in society. You have no such right to do so. You may as well exclude minorities also.
This bill will not make saying anti-gay comments any more illegal than racist comments. It will, however, protect homosexuals from crazy Christian lynch mobs. Perhaps you can understand how killing a person for their sexual preference is wrong.
Marc
July 6, 2007, 10:05pm (report abuse)Heterosexual foam-at-the-mouth Christians who rail and whine about "free speech" issues are nothing more than the tears of a crocodile - that crowd has been busy burning, torturing, and persecuting gays and other minorities for thousands of years. Get some psychotherapy and toss the religious addiction, you hate-filled hypocrites!
April
July 8, 2007, 9:37pm (report abuse)I think that if a homosexual man wants to have a sexual relationship with his homosexual partner in his own home, then by all means do so. How would a Christian- AND I AM A BIBLE THUMPING, HOLY ROLLIN JESUSFREAK CHRISTIAN- look like walking up in your house telling you to stop having sex and doing what you do in your house. But as a Christian I have a right to preach what I believe in my house, in my church, on the street corner, ANYWHERE in this country. Let me remind you that as a Christian my rights are forcibly violated as well. This bill violates them. How dare you ask me the Christian, the preacher to stop preaching what I believe in, because you don’t agree?
april finishes...
July 8, 2007, 9:38pm (report abuse)Homosexual people believe in what they believe and I got to watch them on TV., listen to them on the radio, watch their parades, their music-You are everywhere, you've got your rights, you screw who you wanna screw….and then publicly talk about it. Now you wanna take away mine. Well, some of us are not scared and we are not going to let you back us into a corner. If you come to my church then you are going to hear the pure word of God. If you don't like it then leave. If you like it stay, repent and get free. Besides, as much as homosexuals & Christians would like to think the world does NOT revolve around any of us. God ain’t playing anymore with silly Christians or goofy homosexuals. Pass the bill; at least you’ll know who all the real Christians are….cuz we’ll all be in jail preaching that same gospel in Jail. Then all your prisoners are gonna get saved…you can’t cage the gospel. We're not going anywhere ya'll so BRING IT!
Disgusted, pt 1
July 11, 2007, 9:59am (report abuse)Every person who has posted here, regardless the point of view, has missed (or - worse - chosen to ignore) the three truly reprehensible words that appear throughout the bill: "actual or perceived." They alone should cause any reasonable person to demand of their legislators that this bill die a rapid death. This opens the door for any victim of a crime to claim it was a hate crime in order to exact a more extensive sentence upon the criminal . . . most likely an act based, ironically, on their hatred of said criminal! (Which begs the question: Should criminals now be considered a protected class under this bill?)
Disgusted, pt 2
July 11, 2007, 9:59am (report abuse)And for all you self professed lawyers, please note that there is a distinct difference between motive and intent, much as you would like to muddy those particular waters. 'Motive' is the reason why one MIGHT act in a certain way; 'intent' is their hopeful outcome from said act. Motive is oftentimes a factor in determining (though not proving) guilt; intent is usually considered when imposing punishment. And I'm not even a lawyer!
Virginia Caldwell in Thomaston, Ga
September 10, 2007, 8:49am (report abuse)This is only an example of The Goverment interfering with the church. As a Christian I will not be silent while this attempt to violate all our rights is being made. As Americans and Christians we need to WAKE UP!!!
awwv
September 18, 2007, 9:55am (report abuse)God has been taken out of our schools, out of our public places, out of our post offices and elsewhere, I exercise my right to free speech..GOD IS STILL ON THE THROWN..I agree with those here that want to keep this bill from passing. God Bless America, keep us free!
Ben Noyes
October 27, 2007, 11:22am (report abuse)Ahh The simple question
Why do we need it?
The simple answer
We don't
Brian
April 3, 2008, 7:35pm (report abuse)Just one more step towards the establishment of socialism in America. Mark my words, within 50 years, we will no longer be the United States of America. We will be the Democratic People's Republic of America. Okay, laugh it up, you'll see!
Josh Taylor
June 2, 2008, 3:25pm (report abuse)Shut up, you church fanatics! I support this bill and I think that this country, the world, and myself had enough of your church freaks telling people what's right and what's wrong. There is no right or wrong. We do what we do best. It's in our blood. It's survival of the fittest. It's all part of Nature. Live with it and quit believing in your imaginary dead savior. Your savior was dead 2000 years ago, he's still dead today and he's not coming back. It's time for us athiests to take over this church fanatic country and turn it into an athiestic superstate. The penalty for those who believe in their imaginary dead savior is death.
WHAT?
September 10, 2008, 12:34pm (report abuse)To Josh Taylor - How do you suppose a group of people who have never done anything influential or productive will make a "super state"? You are sad and dumb and may God bless you because you, my friend, sure need it! Look at what happened to Rome! It fell because of homosexual tolerance and drugs! Along with a few other tactical defense problems but still they were all distracted by each others carnal wants and desires or the so called utopia.
On another note, why is it that the homosexual community says that others are pressing their beliefs on them and inhibiting them from freedom and the escape from persecution. Last I checked there aren’t any strait parades or laws protecting our sexual preference. And yes in the end all this is, is the protection of a sexual preference!
what?
September 10, 2008, 12:35pm (report abuse)Concerning this law, there is no need for it because government is already too involved in our lives. Even though it is a slippery slope argument to say that this will lead to other thing, it is the truth. This law will lead to other things that are bad and will cause our society to become morally subjective with liberal ideals that state anything goes! How is that good for out future?
Lance
December 11, 2008, 3:10pm (report abuse)and you call you people good people and religious and smart well if you are so much of such vote for this to be passed