Posted by
Buster Foghorn on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 3:29:13 PM
The proposed legislation is unnecessary since state and federal criminal law statutes currently protect all persons from physical harm. In a capital case for murder, for example, the death penalty (or a life sentence) is authorized. What further punishment greater than the death penalty can be adjudged by virtue of passing hate crimes legislation? What purpose is served?
Furthermore, anecdotal evidence of the consequences of hate crime legislation in England and Canada raises serious concerns, reflecting consequences of such legislation that should be a red flag to all Americans. A great danger with a ‘hate crimes’ bill is the harmful and debilitating effect it has had in foreign jurisdictions: limiting speech, curtailing debate, ushering in speech codes. Hate legislation has a chilling effect on debate. It puts a sword in the hands of litigious groups to stop speech. In Canada, for example, an author of a book review was recently forced to defend his written work before a Human Rights Commission when he merely reported on the content in a bestselling book.
Unfortunately, Senate Bill 909 increases the risk of taking our country in a dangerous direction. Even if you see some intangible benefit in such legislation, however remote, consider the danger that regulating speech and thought poses to a democratic society, a society that values free speech and respects and honors open debate in the public square.
Please don't put First Amendment rights at risk. Please Vote No on S. 909.