Important Alert!
Please
Contact Your Senators and Urge Them to Oppose
Any “Hate Crimes” Legislation
Action Requested:
Please call both of your U.S. Senators and urge them to oppose any federal hate crimes legislation. Contact information is provided below.
If one of your senators serves on the Judiciary Committee (listed below) it is especially essential that you call. This is the committee which may be considering hate crime legislation in the next week or two. However, because there are several ways this legislation could come before the Senate, we are encouraging everyone to contact their senators whether or not they serve on the Judiciary Committee.
What this legislation would do:
It would make it a federal crime for anyone to willfully inflict bodily harm to any person because of their “actual or perceived” race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
Why it is a bad idea:
A major goal of this bill is to “normalize” a variety of perverse sexual behaviors by increasing the penalties for crimes committed against individuals because of their sexual behaviors. Listing sexual orientation and gender in these bills along with race, color, etc, is an effort to legitimize all sexual orientations. There are more than 21 sexual orientations recognized by the American Psychological Association including pedophilia, voyeurism, and transgender and homosexual behavior.
If sexual orientation is added to federal hate crimes provisions then a perpetrator would likely receive a more severe penalty for committing a crime against a pedophile, or a transvestite or someone who is confused about their gender than they would if they committed the same crime against your grandmother. This is very twisted.
Crimes against all people should be prosecuted equally.
In addition, it would inappropriately federalize crimes that should be handled by state and local governments, violating the basic principles of federalism. As a result, it is almost certainly unconstitutional and there is no need for this action.
Suggested major talking points:
1. It violates the basic concept of federalism in the Constitution and is probably unconstitutional
Our Constitution generally reserves police powers to investigate and prosecute violent crimes to the states. The Supreme Court has upheld this arrangement on numerous occasions and this bill is almost certainly unconstitutional. This bill would “federalize” many of these crimes.
2. It is unnecessary
There is no evidence that the states and local governments in this country are not already vigorously investigating and prosecuting all crime, regardless of the motivation. Currently 46 states already have their own hate crime legislation that provides for tougher punishment for a crime if there is evidence that it was motivated by hatred for a group or class of people.
In addition, the federal government already has the authority to prosecute for discrimination or intimidation in the appropriate areas of federal responsibility such as protecting legitimate civil rights and the right to vote.
3. It is a major step towards government legitimizing these behaviors
This legislation is a major step for homosexual activists and their allies to get government at all levels to take action that legitimizes their sexual behaviors and orientations. If the terms “gender,” which supporters of the bill have made clear is intended to include transvestites, transsexuals and others, and “sexual orientation” are included as “protected classes” it will legitimize these behaviors and set the precedent for granting individuals in these groups additional special recognition and rights.
There is no good reason for this bill. There is no evidence that there has been a rash of crimes motivated by hate towards a victim because of their sexual orientation and there is no evidence that crimes committed against people with differing sexual orientations have not been sufficiently prosecuted.
The real goal behind this bill is to affect the critical and controversial ongoing public policy debates over issues such as dealing with gender confusion and homosexuality in school sex education classes, whether to legalize same-sex “marriage,” and others. Enactment of this bill will undermine those religious and other organizations which oppose normalizing these behaviors on moral or religious grounds.
4. It is inappropriate
All hate crime legislation is inappropriate in our system of justice because it punishes thought as well as the deed. A crime is a crime and it is unfair to give special consideration to one type of victim. Why, for example, should someone who commits a crime against a homosexual be punished more severely than someone who commits the same crime against a senior citizen?
For more information:
An excellent, in depth analysis of the issues and problems with federal hate crimes legislation has been prepared by the Senate Republican Policy Committee.
Status of hate crimes bills:
There are two ways in which the Senate might consider federal hate crimes legislation. We suggest that you mention both. One way is as part of the “Child Safety Act” already passed by the House of Representatives. In a surprise move, 30 Republican congressmen joined most of the Democratic congressmen to add a hate crimes amendment to this completely unrelated bill on the floor of the House. This bill is now before the Senate, but this section has been stripped out by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It could be offered as a floor amendment.
In addition, Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, the prime sponsor in the Senate, reportedly is trying to add a similar hate crimes provision to S. 1088, the “Streamlined Procedures Act.”
When you call:
The important message to convey to your senators is to oppose ANY hate crimes legislation.
Most senate offices have voice mail, so you can call at any time and leave a message. You need not go into much detail, simply summarize the reasons you want your senator to oppose this legislation. We encourage you to leave your name and mailing address so that your senator will know you are a constituent and also ask them to write to you giving their position on this legislation.
The list of senators and their telephone numbers is provided below and those who are on the Judiciary Committee are noted.
THIS MAY COME BEFORE THE SENATE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO. PLEASE ACT TODAY!
Senators Names and Office Phone Numbers
| Alaska | |
| Murkowski, Lisa | (202) 224-6665 |
| Stevens, Ted | (202) 224-3004 |
| Alabama | |
| Sessions, Jeff (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-4124 |
| Shelby, Richard | (202) 224-5744 |
| Arkansas | |
| Lincoln, Blanche | (202) 224-4843 |
| Pryor, Mark | (202) 224-2353 |
| Arizona | |
| Kyl, Jon (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-4521 |
| McCain, John | (202) 224-2235 |
| California | |
| Boxer, Barbara | (202) 224-3553 |
| Feinstein, Dianne (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-3841 |
| Colorado | |
| Allard, Wayne | (202) 224-5941 |
| Salazar, Ken | (202) 224-5852 |
| Connecticut | |
| Dodd, Christopher | (202) 224-2823 |
| Lieberman, Joseph | (202) 224-4041 |
| Delaware | |
| Biden, Joseph (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-5042 |
| Carper, Thomas | (202) 224-2441 |
| Florida | |
| Martinez, Mel | (202) 224-3041 |
| Nelson, Bill | (202) 224-5274 |
| Georgia | |
| Chambliss, Saxby | (202) 224-3521 |
| Isakson, Johnny | (202) 224-3643 |
| Hawaii | |
| Akaka, Daniel | (202) 224-6361 |
| Inouye, Daniel | (202) 224-3934 |
| Idaho | |
| Craig, Larry | (202) 224-2752 |
| Crapo, Michael | (202) 224-6142 |
| Illinois | |
| Durbin, Richard (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-2152 |
| Obama, Barack | (202) 224-2854 |
| Indiana | |
| Bayh, Evan | (202) 224-5623 |
| Lugar, Richard | (202) 224-4814 |
| Iowa | |
| Grassley, Chuck (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-3744 |
| Harkin, Tom | (202) 224-3254 |
| Kansas | |
| Brownback, Sam (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-6521 |
| Roberts, Pat | (202) 224-4774 |
| Kentucky | |
| Bunning, Jim | (202) 224-4343 |
| McConnell, Mitch | (202) 224-2541 |
| Louisiana | |
| Landrieu, Mary | (202) 224-5824 |
| Vitter, David | (202) 224-4623 |
| Maine | |
| Collins, Susan | (202) 224-2523 |
| Snowe, Olympia | (202) 224-5344 |
| Maryland | |
| Mikulski, Barbara | (202) 224-4654 |
| Sarbanes, Paul | (202) 224-4524 |
| Massachusetts | |
| Kennedy, Edward (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-4543 |
| Kerry, John | (202) 224-2742 |
| Michigan | |
| Levin, Carl | (202) 224-6221 |
| Stabenow, Debbie | (202) 224-4822 |
| Minnesota | |
| Coleman, Norm | (202) 224-5641 |
| Dayton, Mark | (202) 224-3244 |
| Mississippi | |
| Cochran, Thad | (202) 224-5054 |
| Lott, Trent | (202) 224-6253 |
| Missouri | |
| Bond, Christopher | (202) 224-5721 |
| Talent, James | (202) 224-6154 |
| Montana | |
| Baucus, Max | (202) 224-2651 |
| Burns, Conrad | (202) 224-2644 |
| Nebraska | |
| Hagel, Chuck | (202) 224-4224 |
| Nelson, Ben | (202) 224-6551 |
| Nevada | |
| Ensign, John | (202) 224-6244 |
| Reid, Harry | (202) 224-3542 |
| New Hampshire | |
| Gregg, Judd | (202) 224-3324 |
| Sununu, John | (202) 224-2841 |
| New Jersey | |
| Corzine, Jon | (202) 224-4744 |
| Lautenberg, Frank | (202) 224-3224 |
| New Mexico | |
| Bingaman, Jeff | (202) 224-5521 |
| Domenici, Pete | (202) 224-6621 |
| New York | |
| Clinton, Hillary | (202) 224-4451 |
| Schumer, Charles (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-6542 |
| North Carolina | |
| Burr, Richard | (202) 224-3154 |
| Dole, Elizabeth | (202) 224-6342 |
| North Dakota | |
| Conrad, Kent | (202) 224-2043 |
| Dorgan, Byron | (202) 224-2551 |
| Ohio | |
| DeWine, Mike (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-2315 |
| Voinovich, George | (202) 224-3353 |
| Oklahoma | |
| Coburn, Tom (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-5754 |
| Inhofe, James | (202) 224-4721 |
| Oregon | |
| Smith, Gordon | (202) 224-3753 |
| Wyden, Ron | (202) 224-5244 |
| Pennsylvania | |
| Santorum, Rick | (202) 224-6324 |
| Specter, Arlen (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-4254 |
| Rhode Island | |
| Chafee, Lincoln | (202) 224-2921 |
| Reed, Jack | (202) 224-4642 |
| South Carolina | |
| DeMint, Jim | (202) 224-6121 |
| Graham, Lindsey (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-5972 |
| South Dakota | |
| Johnson, Tim | (202) 224-5842 |
| Thune, John | (202) 224-2321 |
| Tennessee | |
| Alexander, Lamar | (202) 224-4944 |
| Frist, Bill | (202) 224-3344 |
| Texas | |
| Cornyn, John (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-2934 |
| Hutchison, Kay | (202) 224-5922 |
| Utah | |
| Bennett, Robert | (202) 224-5444 |
| Hatch, Orrin (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-5251 |
| Vermont | |
| Jeffords, James | (202) 224-5141 |
| Leahy, Patrick (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-4242 |
| Virginia | |
| Allen, George | (202) 224-4024 |
| Warner, John | (202) 224-2023 |
| Washington | |
| Cantwell, Maria | (202) 224-3441 |
| Murray, Patty | (202) 224-2621 |
| West Virginia | |
| Byrd, Robert | (202) 224-3954 |
| Rockefeller, John | (202) 224-6472 |
| Wisconsin | |
| Feingold, Russell (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-5323 |
| Kohl, Herb (Judiciary Committee) | (202) 224-5653 |
| Wyoming | |
| Enzi, Michael | (202) 224-3424 |
| Thomas, Craig | (202) 224-6441 |
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