Christian Web News - Alliance Defense Fund attorneys warn that the U.S. Senate should not pass H.R. 1913, the so-called ‘hate crimes’ bill. If it becomes law, ADF attorneys say the bill could severely impede Americans’ constitutional rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression while creating additional legal protections for those engaged in homosexual behavior that are not available to everyone else.
“All violent crimes are hate crimes, and all crime victims deserve equal justice,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot. “So-called ‘hate crime’ laws actually serve only one purpose: The criminalization of citizens based on whatever thoughts, beliefs, and emotions they have that are not considered to be ‘politically correct.’ No one should fall for the idea that this bill does anything to bring about greater justice for Americans.”
ADF attorneys delivered a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on April 22 urging it to reject the bill. The letter noted that the enforcement of “political orthodoxy” in the form of so-called “hate crime” laws is being used to target sincere people of faith, including a small photography company in New Mexico which was fined by the state’s Human Rights Commission for declining to photograph a “commitment ceremony” between two women. New Mexico does not recognize “marriages” between members of the same sex.
“The emotion of hate is an unfortunate reality of the human experience,” the ADF letter stated. “But it is not a crime unless accompanied by a criminal action--and even then it is the action that is within the police power of the government, not the emotion. The reality is that ‘hate’ crime laws are designed to punish people for what they think, feel, or believe. The crime itself that is committed is already punished under various federal and state criminal laws.”
The U.S. House passed its version of the bill by a vote of 249-175. The Senate will now consider whether or not the bill should become law.
Posted by Get your facts straight, on 07-05-2009 15:05,
Reality Check: My, aren't we judgmental? If you'd do your homework and stop making stupid assumptions, you'd notice this site is very open to discussion from different view points. Keep up the good work CWNEWZ!
Oh, and I'm sure my comment will be deleted, because it doesn't agree with your viewpoint, but wouldn't that be an ironic thing to have happen to a comment at the end of an article that complains about the threat to people's rights to express their opinions?
Hate crimes bills ARE needed, because hate crime seek the intimidation of entire COMMUNITIES of people, not just the individual that was targeted.
Would you venture to say that the killing of Jews under Hitler's regime was just a series of simple murders?
Would you say that the lynching of Blacks in America was just a series of simple murders?
No. Those crimes attacked MILLIONS of people, not just the individual victims.
If Christians can't see that at a time when they are whining about being targeted for their faith, then I have a feeling Jesus himself would weep at the sight of what his flock has devolved into, and how far away from his message they have strayed.
Christian Web News - Jesus has a way of getting right to the point, doesn't He? There was certainly no mincing of words, He came right out and said, "why are you fearful?" and then went on to say, "O you of little faith." You don't have to read between the lines to see what He was saying, they had little faith.
Christian Web News - Galatians 3:13-14. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
