20070617 Issues Handout
From the American Family Association. http://www.afa.net
For the Alliance Defense Fund’s summary of this bill, http://www.afa.net/PDfs/hatecrimespreventionact2007.pdf
What we can do: Sign the Petition to Congress Today
https://secure.afa.net/afa/activism/signpetition.asp?id=1680
What are we talking about?
House bill H.R. 1592
http://www3.capwiz.com/afanet/issues/bills/?bill=9668611
Senate bill S. 1105 http://www.capwiz.com/afanet/issues/bills/?bill=9642666
HR 1592:
H.R. 1592 is ultimately a Thought Crimes law which aims to silence biblical Judeo-Christian speech and beliefs about homosexuality and “transgenderism.”
Bill # H.R.1592
Original Sponsor:
John Conyers (D-MI 14th)
Cosponsor Total: 172
(last sponsor added 04/30/2007)
161 Democrats
11 Republicans
About This Legislation:
3/20/2007--Introduced. Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 - Authorizes the Attorney General to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that: (1) constitutes a crime of violence under federal law or a felony under state, local, or Indian tribal law; and (2) is motivated by prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim or is a violation of the state, local, or tribal hate crime laws. Directs the Attorney General to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one state and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to assist state, local, and Indian law enforcement agencies with such extraordinary expenses. Directs the Office of Justice Programs to: (1) work closely with funded jurisdictions to ensure that the concerns and needs of all affected parties are addressed; and (2) award grants to state and local programs designed to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit willfully causing bodily injury to any person because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of such person. Amends the Hate Crimes Statistics Act to expand data collection and reporting requirements under such Act to include: (1) crimes manifesting prejudice based on gender and gender identity; and (2) hate crimes committed by and against juveniles.
S 1105: Hate Crimes Bill - Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007
Bill # S.1105
Original Sponsor:
Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Cosponsor Total: 44
(last sponsor added 04/23/2007)
38 Democrats
2 Independents
4 Republicans
About This Legislation:
A bill to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes. The bill would unnecessarily add sexual orientation and gender identity to a list of protected classes of society that are given special rights under the law. There are already laws on the books to protect people from violent crime.