From "Introducing the Thought Police" by Chuck Colson, posted 7/16/07 at Breakpoint.org
Never judge a book by its cover, so goes the old expression. But what’s true about books is even more true about legislation. For example, a bill pending before the Senate is titled the “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007.” Since few people want to promote “hate crimes,” preventing hate crimes sounds like a laudable goal. Right?
Not if you read what’s between the covers: The title of this bill ought to be the “Thought Control Act of 2007.”
I told “BreakPoint” listeners and readers about the bill when it was pending before the House. Unfortunately, that bill passed the House and now faces Senate ratification—this time, in typical Washington fashion, as an amendment tacked on to the National Defense Authorization Act.
The law is just as dangerous now as it was then.
This bill would give the federal government jurisdiction over local criminal offenses believed to be “motivated by prejudice.” Not just any prejudice, mind you, but prejudice based on “race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim.”
Watch those phrases sexual orientation and gender identity, because they tell you which groups are pushing hardest for this bill. The committee rejected amendments that would include other groups, like veterans, the homeless, and senior citizens.
That still leaves us with “why?” Do crimes against homosexuals go unpunished? Are people free to attack gays with impunity?
Of course not. There are already laws against assaults on people and property. Moreover, according to the FBI, crimes against homosexuals in the United States have dropped dramatically. In 2005, out of 863,000 cases of aggravated assault, just 177 cases were crimes of bias against homosexuals—far less than 1 percent.
For the bill’s supporters, it is not enough to walk down the street in complete safety. Nor is it enough to be able to work and live wherever you please. Like the state song of Kansas, they want a place where “seldom is heard a discouraging word” about homosexuality.
See, the bill is not about crime prevention or even civil rights. It’s about outlawing peaceful speech—speech that asserts that homosexual behavior is morally wrong. That’s why the House judiciary committee rejected an amendment stipulating that nothing in this law would limit the religious freedom of any person or group under the Constitution.
Read the rest of this article.The Kennedy Hate Crimes Amendment will have to be ratified by the Senate before becoming part of the National Defense Authorization Act but please voice your opinion to your senators. Call the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to their office.
You don't have to say much when you call - although you can if you like. It can be as simple as "Please tell Senator ___________ that I strongly oppose the Kennedy Hate Crimes amendment." That's it. It's that simple.
