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From CWALAC.org LAC Alerts - Main Page
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) just announced that he intends to add "hate crimes" as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill. It will be on the Senate floor this week. Sen. Leahy claimed there is a "serious and growing problem of hate crimes" as evidenced by the recent shooting at the Holocaust museum. Yet his amendment to give special preferences for sexual orientation and gender identity has nothing to do with that crime. Laws already exist - and are being applied - to bring justice to that case. This is true of virtually all crimes against victims of various sexual orientations and gender identities. There is no evidence to indicate that these crimes aren't already being handled adequately. The point of Leahy's "hate crimes" amendment is to create a special class of victims that would get preferential treatment. "Hate crimes" laws contradict the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and create unequal justice by empowering some groups of victims at the expense of others. Victims who engage in homosexual, transgender, or other sexual behavior get special treatment over victims who are military officers, police officers or veterans. How offensive to add special preferences for homosexuals and transgender people to a Department of Defense funding bill but deny that to members of the military. And, it allows an individual to be prosecuted twice for the same crime. This violates the Constitutional protection against Double Jeopardy. 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 powerful special interest groups, like homosexual rights groups. It is extremely crucial that your Senators hear from you today! Please call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and ask them to oppose Senator Leahy's "hate crimes" amendment. The following Senators need additional pressure regarding this dangerous legislation:
Thank you,
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