ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!
June 19, 2000
FEDERALIZING "HATE" CRIMES
Urge Your Senators to Oppose Hatch and Kennedy Amendments
On Tuesday, June 20, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on two
"hate crimes" amendments as part of the debate on the National
Defense Authorization Act (S. 2549).
KENNEDY AMENDMENT
Senator Ted Kennedy's hate crimes amendment would add "actual
or perceived" gender, sexual orientation or disability to the
federal hate-crimes law, which currently covers race, color,
religion, and national origin. It further allows federal
investigators
and prosecutors to intervene when suspected hate crimes take
place.
HATCH AMENDMENT
Senator Orrin Hatch's amendment would call for an 18-month
study of "relevant offenses," which are defined to include
gender,
age, and any other category defined in the Hate Crimes
Statistics
Act including sexual orientation. The Hatch measure further
gives
the Department of Justice authorization to "assist" states in
investigating "relevant offenses," which means federal
involvement
in state and local crimes.
ALL CRIMES ARE HATE CRIMES
Expanding federal hate crime laws is unnecessary and unjust.
Every crime covered as a "hate crime" is already illegal under
state
and local laws. The American justice system should treat all
citizens equally under the law, but hate crime laws create a
hierarchy of victims. Every crime should be punished, and only
tough judges can ensure that happens.
ACTION ITEMS
The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the Kennedy and Hatch
Amendments starting at 3:00 p.m. on June 20. Call your Senators
immediately and urge them to vote 'NO' on both amendments.
Reaching those on the target list below is especially
important.
TARGET LIST:
Abraham (MI), Byrd (WV), Campbell (CO), Chafee (RI), Collins
(ME), DeWine (OH), Domenici (NM), Edwards (NC), Enzi (WY),
Fitzgerald (IL), Gorton (WA), Hatch (UT), Hollings (SC),
Hutchison
(TX), Lincoln (AR), McCain (AZ), Moynihan (NY), Smith (OR),
Snowe (ME), Specter (PA), Stevens (AK), Voinovich (OH), Warner
(VA)
E-mail Link:
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm
Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121
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Read this ALERT online:
http://eagleforum.org/alert/00-06-19/hate-crimes.html
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Eagle Forum
http://www.eagleforum.org
PO Box 618 eagle@eagleforum.org
Alton, IL 62002 Phone: 618-462-5415
Fax: 618-462-8909
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