Hate-Crime Bill

the NCR has a piece on the recent hate-crime bill passed by the House:

WASHINGTON — The White House has promised a Bush veto for a House-passed bill that would involve the federal government in local hate-crime prosecutions.

The bill, which passed the House of Representatives on May 4 in a 237-180 vote, mostly along party lines, would create a new protected status for “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”

Several activist groups, including the Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America, opposed the bill vigorously out of concern that it could ultimately result in discrimination against Christians and others who object to public homosexuality and speak out against the establishment of same-sex “marriage.”

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Christian organizations have complained that this bill will limit religious freedom, but their argument is broader than this particular bill. While it is unlikely that this bill will result in bishops, priests and pastors being hauled away for preaching against homosexuality, opponents fear that it sets up a slippery slope.

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The new hate-crime bill differs from other versions in two ways. First, the bill applies to many state-level offenses (for example, simple murder). Were this bill to become law, the U.S. Attorney General would have the option to leave an alleged hate-crime offense at the state level, or to bring up the defendant on a separate federal charge of criminal civil rights violation. This carries an added sentence of up to 10 years, or life if the victim dies or is kidnapped or sexually abused.

All that is required to federalize the crime is that a weapon involved cross state lines at some point before or during the offense. “Previous federal hate-crime legislation which has passed has always been attached to a federal crime,” said Pence. “This bill effectively federalizes all hate-crimes.”