Senate Passes Defense Act With
Bill that Expands Hate Crimes
On Tuesday, June 15, the U.S. Senate voted 65-33 to expand federal hate crimes legislation by including sexual orientation as a class of people worthy
| of special protection. This “hate crimes” legislation could not have
passed as a stand-alone bill, but instead, was attached as an amendment
to the 422 billion dollar budget in the Defense
Authorization Act -- knowing that senators would feel obligated to
support the Defense Act itself.
Pro-homosexual Senators Ted
Kennedy (D-MA) and Gordon Smith
(R-OR) were responsible for this calculated and underhanded maneuver
that plays politics with our national security.
Kennedy and Smith’s amendment forces the government to impose
special fines upon a person when they have committed a crime that “is
motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national
origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim.” Speculation has it that the legislation comes as a result of emboldened
leadership within the homosexual activist community after the legalization
of “same-sex marriages” in Massachusetts. And now, obviously, homosexual
advocates are attempting to get legislation that would punish anyone
who objects to their lifestyle – particularly Bible
believing Christians. Pro-family advocates believe that this law, if it remains in the Defense Authorization Act and is approved by the House, could potentially equate the Bible to “hate speech” and could be used by activist judges, the ACLU or political ideologues to |
 Senator Ted Kennedy |
blur
the line of religious liberty and silence those who speak out against homosexuality.
The Bible clearly denounces the
homosexual lifestyle as an abomination in the eyes of God and sermons which
relate such truths could potentially be considered “hate speech.”
Following in Canadas’ Footsteps
Just one month prior this, Canada approved similar
legislation, which was aimed at preventing all language that could lead to the “incitement
of hatred” toward homosexuals. The bill was dubbed the “Bible as Hate Speech” bill by pro-family advocates, who warned that
such legislation could criminalize portions of the Bible that denounce homosexuality.
Already, in a disturbing example of the implications of this
bill, one Canadian court has upheld a fine against a Saskatchewan newspaper
publisher for running an advertisement that listed the various Bible verses dealing with homosexuality.
In Sweden, a pastor was arrested at his church after he began reading Bible verses about homosexuality. In
Britain, an Anglican bishop was placed under criminal investigation for
suggesting that homosexuals can change their sexual orientation. Recently in
Tennessee, two men were arrested for carrying large wooden crosses during a Gay
Day Parade. The men were charged with “disorderly conduct” and “interfering
with a special event.”
Rights of Homosexuals to Trump Rights of Others
Bob Knight, director of the Culture and Family Institute,
believes that if Kennedy and Smith’s legislation is passed, it will undoubtedly
be used to “muzzle public discussion of homosexuality and even someday silence
pastors.” Knight went on to comment, “It’s a very dangerous bill, because it
adds ‘sexual orientation’ to hate crimes law and greatly expands federal
jurisdiction.”
If passed, this law would give priority to those investigations,
trials, and sentencing guidelines concerning violent crimes against
homosexuals, while heterosexuals will not qualify for similar priorities under
the law. “If your grandmother is mugged, it won’t be a big deal -- unless she
is a lesbian,” Knight noted. “And law enforcement authorities may have to put
more of their revenues toward the mugging, say, of a homosexual guy walking
down the street. Both deserve protection, but certainly the gay guy doesn’t
deserve more than your grandmother.”
Unfortunately, under this proposed legislation, the rights and
protections of homosexuals would take priority over heterosexuals -- as newly
minted citizens of heightened importance.
Take Action!
Do
not allow this legislation to go unopposed. Contact your congressman and tell him
to oppose and remove this amendment from the Defense Authorization Act. Also, contact President Bush and urge
him to veto this legislation should it reach his desk. The U.S. Capitol
switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. President Bush’s number is (202) 456-1414.
In addition, contact House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
and encourage him to vigorously oppose this legislation. You may reach him at: Representative
Tom DeLay, Majority Leader Office, H-107 The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515 or call (202) 225-4000.
Portions of this article were taken from two
articles written by Sam Kastensmidt who is a regular
reporter for D. James Kennedy’s organization Reclaiming America. For more information about Reclaiming America
visit their web site at www.reclaimingamerica.org.