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The Thought Police Have Come A-Knockin’ 3/12/2007 A grandmother walking down the street should have at least as much protection under the law as someone who is leaving a “gay” bar. Most Americans would agree that a crime is a crime and a victim is a victim. However, Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), and John Conyers (D- Michigan) and others believe that biases in our society are so pervasive that additional legislation to protect certain members of society must be enacted.
They paint a picture of widespread violence against homosexuals as being on the rise; defenseless citizens targeted for violence merely for their “sexual orientation” or “gender identity.” Although such offenses have actually been on the decline, Reps. Jackson Lee and Conyers have both introduced legislation in this Congress to address the issue.
To be sure, victims of so-called “hate crimes” should not receive any less protection than victims of other crimes (something for which there is no evidence, by the way), but they shouldn’t receive more protection either. And that’s exactly what happens with “hate crimes” legislation.
A grandmother walking down the street should have at least as much protection under the law as someone who is leaving a “gay” bar. Or how about a woman who was raped and then murdered? Should her life be valued less than the life of a lesbian who was raped and then murdered?
All of these crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but under “hate crimes” laws that include “sexual orientation,” these crimes would be punished with greater penalties if the victim were perceived as homosexual.
In 2005, the FBI recorded 8,804 “hate crime” victims in all categories nationwide, with 1,213 of them categorized as victims of “sexual orientation” bias (down from 1,482 in 2004). Of those 8,804 victims, the offenses against 5,190 of them were classified under the “crimes against persons” category. Murder accounted for approximately 6 incidents, and forcible rape accounted for 3 incidents, while “intimidation” accounted for a whopping 48.9 percent of “hate crimes” reports by those 5,190 victims.
The Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook definition of intimidation is “To unlawfully place another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words and/or other conduct, but without displaying a weapon or subjecting the victim to actual physical attack.” In the past, this has included preaching on street corners during a homosexual pride parade.
In November 2002, Pennsylvania legislators added “actual or perceived sexual orientation” and “gender or gender identity” to the state’s “ethnic intimidation hate crimes” law. Concerned Women for America (CWA) and others warned at the time that it would lead to persecution of Christians, but proponents scoffed.
In 2004, Michael Marcavage and 10 others were arrested in Philadelphia for conducting sidewalk evangelism during the homosexual “Outfest.” They faced eight separate charges, including felony violations involving criminal conspiracy and — not surprisingly — “ethnic intimidation” under the state’s “hate crimes” law. Those charges — of which they were eventually cleared — carried the specter of a 47-year prison sentence for those charged.
While CWA deplores any act of violence against innocent victims (including homosexuals), we strongly oppose as unjust and dangerous the entire concept of “hate crimes” legislation. Enacting federal “hate crime” legislation starts us down a slippery slope towards nullifying our First Amendment liberties.
Please call your Representatives at (202) 225-3121 and urge them to oppose any “hate crime” bills that come before the House. CWA will continue to monitor these bills.
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Concerned Women for America 1015 Fifteenth St. N.W., Suite 1100 Washington, D.C. 20005 Phone: (202) 488-7000 Fax: (202) 488-0806 |
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