Dear Friend,

The Senate could vote on dangerous "hate crimes" legislation this week. We need your help to stop this bill.

The "hate crimes" bill creates special classes of victims based solely upon their "sexual orientation" or "gender identity." Victims who engage in homosexual, transgender, fetish, or other sexual behaviors would get preferential treatment over victims who are grandmothers, veterans, or children. In other countries, this type of law has led to people being punished for their moral views on sexuality.

"Hate crimes" legislation unduly expands the federal government. These crimes are already fully prosecuted by the states, with violent criminals receiving life sentences. Crimes against people who engage in different sexual behaviors are also already fully prosecuted by states. FBI statistics reveal that in 2007, 1,512 "hate crimes" were motivated by "sexual orientation" bias. Two-thirds of those 1,512 crimes were acts of name-calling, pushing, or shoving, and 247 cases were aggravated assaults (including five deaths) allegedly motivated by "sexual orientation." In each case, where appropriate, offenders were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The victims received the exact same justice guaranteed every American. "Hate crimes" bills unnecessarily expand the power of the federal government to intervene in state matters.

In addition, it allows an individual to be prosecuted twice for the same "crime." This violates the constitutional protection against double jeopardy and gives prosecutors a "do-over." If federal officials did not like the outcome of a trial or the sentence, then the federal government could assume jurisdiction and try the person again. This gives unjust power to select officials who may be unduly influenced by special interest/ pressure groups.

It provides special status for sexual behavior. Since "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" were deliberately left undefined in the bill, it could create federal special status for over 20 kinds of sexual behaviors, including pedophilia and bestiality.

Similar laws have been used in Europe, Canada — and even in America — to intimidate and punish people who honor natural sexuality and religious teachings. If a person speaks out against various sexual behaviors, they may be accused of "hate speech" and promoting "hate crimes."

The Senate will vote soon on "hate crimes!" We need your help now to defeat this legislation! Please make sure you call your Senator, particularly if you live in a conservative state.

Action:

1. Call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose the "hate crimes" bill.
2. Print Concerned Women for America's "hate crimes" fact card for your friends, family, and church. Urge them to call their Senators and oppose "hate crimes" also.

Thank you,


Wendy Wright
President

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