Politics
Friday May 4, 2007
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US House Passes Gay Hate Crime Bill
By Hilary White
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The US House of Representatives has passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1592 that inserts “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” into existing hate crimes provisions. The bill passed with a vote of 237-180, with 25 Republicans joining 212 Democrats. Fourteen Democrats opposed the bill.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who co-authored the bill’s first version with Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., in 2000, have promised quick action on a similar bill moving through the Senate.
Since the 2006 mid-term elections, Democrats have held control of both houses, but do not hold a wide enough majority to overturn a presidential veto which has been promised by President Bush.
Calling the bill “constitutionally questionable” a statement from the White House said, “There has been no persuasive demonstration of any need to federalize such a potentially large range of violent crime enforcement.”
“In addition, almost every state in the country can actively prosecute hate crimes under the state’s own hate crimes law.”
Hate crimes under current federal law apply to acts of violence against individuals on the basis of race, religion, color, or national origin. Federal prosecutors have jurisdiction only if the victim is engaged in a specific federally protected activity such as voting.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
President Bush Promises to Veto Homosexual Hate Crime Bill if Passed
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07050302.html
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