Okay, you knew it was coming at some point. I was going to get political. In my defense, our government makes it soooo easy. I am constantly amazed and usually offended at what transpires in the name of political correctness.
Currently, our country and our elected officials are dealing with a controversal hate crimes bill that in its essence would apply a different standard to any crime in which the victim feels violated due to their status (race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc.). Whaaaat????? See, that is where I get confused, because I thought that any violent crime was originated in hate. I mean you don’t decide to kill someone because it’s your time of the month. (Well sometimes, I feel that way). Seriously though, any violent crime is at its core, a crime of hate. Apparently, our elected officials, backed by some very loud interest groups, have decided that you and I need special protection and our current laws are inadequate for the job.
Now, before someone accuses me of being discriminating to any group of people, let me say that I have no enemies (except for the guy who pulls in front of me in traffic-covered in post on the first day). I tend to defend anyone who is an underdog. My problem here is the obvious hypocritical viewpoints that are evident in the media and with special interest groups. In one breath, these interest groups tell us how special protection is needed and in the next breath, they back pedal. I am sure you are wondering what I am talking about. Well, I’ll tell ya……
In July of 2009, the Senate passed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to a 2010 DoD authorization bill. In addition, the Senate passed an amendment to the Act that would allow the death penalty to be applied in hate crimes cases under some circumstances. Now if I understand this correctly, this Act provides what the special interest groups want, increased punishment for hate crimes. But wait, they don’t like the amendment….death penalty. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights
(LCCR) and other civil and human rights groups that are supporting the Act do not support the Sessions amendment. The groups said: “We strongly oppose this amendment…The death penalty is irreversible and highly controversial – with significant doubts about its deterrent effect and clear evidence of disproportionate application against poor people. Moreover, there are serious, well-documented concerns about unequal and racially biased application of the death penalty.” (http://www.civilrights.org/advocacy/letters/2009/oppose-the-sessions.html).
Are we trying to send a message with this bill or not? You cannot have it both ways! Either the crime is serious enough for this designation or it isn’t. Make up your mind!!!!!
By the way, I am not done with this topic as I feel this bill violates the state’s ability to govern itself and seriously endangers the freedom of speech that some of us in this country enjoy.
