Changes

In January of 2007, after the [[Democrats]] won a landslide victory in the United States Congress, Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) introduced the Federal Hate Crime bill H.R. 254([http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:h.r.254:]) or the David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.  This law would bring a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted or life, if "the acts committed in violation of this paragraph include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill."

In January of 2007, after the [[Democrat|democratic]] takeover of the United States Congress, Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) introduced the Federal Hate Crime bill H.R. 254([http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:h.r.254:]) or the David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.  This law would bring a mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted or life, if "the acts committed in violation of this paragraph include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill."

These penalties come into effect if an "actual or perceived" threat occurs.  Simply put, this creates a a special class of person that gets special rights and privileges.

These penalties come into effect if an "actual or perceived" threat occurs.  Simply put, this creates a a special class of person that gets special rights and privileges.

Two powerful reasons that this bill is dangerous -  

Two powerful reasons that this bill is dangerous -  

1) Someone who murders a gay person could get sentenced to life in prison while a person who murders a grandmother coming back from the store with cat food would serve less time. Although it is unlikely if you murdered a grandmother you would serve less than life in prison.

1) Someone who murders a gay person could get sentenced to life in prison while a person who murders a grandmother coming back from the store with cat food would serve less time.

2) "Actual or percieved" leaves open the possibility that if a homosexual touched you on the shoulder in a sexaul way and you pushed him away roughly, you could spend ten years in prison. Clearly you should be able to push people around whenever you want without punishment.

2) "Actual or percieved" leaves open the possibility that if a homosexual touched you on the shoulder in a sexaul way and you pushed him away roughly, you could spend ten years in prison.

This bill is seen by some conservatives a blatant attempt to normalize the homosexual lifestyle. Christian groups clearly believe the possibility of being beaten and killed is a handy disincentive to being gay, and the people who beat, abuse and kill should really not be punished so harshly for performing this community service.

This bill is seen by some conservatives a blatant attempt to normalize the homosexual lifestyle.