Muddling Toward Maturity Blog

DO YOU THINK "HATE CRIMES" LEGISLATION A GOOD IDEA?

Then it's crucial to read this analysis.  It will explain the horrors of the bill that Congress will soon be voting on.

Call your two senators and representative and ask them to vote against the "Hate Crimes" bill.  You can reach all three at 202-224-3121.

Update 6/25/09 - From Family Research Council:

This morning FRC submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding one of the Left's most coveted policy objectives--a federal hate crimes law. The House passed the Hate Crimes measure on April 29, but today's hearing in the Senate was the first on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S. 909). I won't go into how the bill's title is historically and factually incorrect (you can see that for yourself in FRC's documentary, Censoring the Church and Silencing Christians). This measure would create special protections for people based on their sexual behavior, gender identity, or perceived sexual orientation or gender.

Yielding to pressure from the homosexual community, which is among the loudest in the Democratic Party's base, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had vowed to attach "hate crimes" to must-pass legislation by August. As we document in Censoring the Church, hate crimes laws are a threat to free speech, religious freedom, and equal protection under the law. Congress should not allow certain privileged groups to have special protection under the law, and FRC said as much in our testimony when we stated, "A federal hate crime law is unnecessary, it's ineffective, and it promotes inequality."

To read how, click over to www.frc.org and read our testimony. You can also see where this legislation would lead in stunning real-life stories featured in our documentary, Censoring the Church, available online. When you're through watching clips, contact your senators and urge them to vote "no" on S. 909.

Additional Resources
Read Tony Perkins' written testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee

NAT HENTOFF ON HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION

Six minute video.  Click here.

The Myth of An Anti-Muslim Hate Crime Epidemic

Investor's Business Daily posted an editorial today pointing out that

Not only are anti-Islamic hate crimes way down, but they're a fraction of overall religious hate crimes. The overwhelming majority of such crimes target Jews, something CAIR and other Muslim groups don't seem all that concerned about.

 In 2006, a whopping 66% of religiously motivated attacks were on Jews, while just 11% targeted Muslims, even though the Jewish and Muslim populations are similar in size. Catholics and Protestants, who together account for 9% of victims, are subject to almost as much abuse as Muslims in this country.

Read the whole article.  See also Michelle Malkin who writes:

Remember the FBI hate crimes report released a few weeks ago that exposed the continuing myth of the Muslim hate crime epidemic?

See also Malkin's earlier post Muslim "Hate Crimes" and a list of her other posts.