Hate Crimes Talking Points
Hate Crimes Law Is Fundamentally Unfair
 Hate crimes law increases the penalty assessed to those who commit a crime for reasons of “bias or prejudice” against certain politically correct groups. Under hate crimes law, a homosexual male would receive greater protection from assault than a white eight-year old girl.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution declares that no state may deprive its citizens of “equal protection of the laws.” Hate crimes legislation directly contradicts the letter and the spirit of the Fourteenth Amendment by granting greater protection to certain citizens based on their possession of specific politically correct attributes.
Hate Crimes Law Penalizes Thoughts and Motivations, Not Actions
The criminal actions to which hate crimes are attached are already illegal and punishable by law. Hate crimes law does nothing to criminalize behavior, but instead criminalizes the thought and motivation behind criminal acts.
If the hate crimes law is enacted, it is only a matter of time before our government, intent on eliminating “root causes” and “criminal” motivations, completely de-links the prosecution of opinions from the prosecution of actions. Some groups are already claiming that the simple assertion that “homosexuality is a sin” constitutes a hate crime.
Hate Crimes is a Manufactured “Crisis”
According to FBI data (Crime in the United State, 1997, and Hate Crimes Statistics, 1997), hate crimes account for an extremely small percentage of total crimes.
- Of every 20,000 murders, 9 are “hate crimes”
- Of every 20,000 rapes, 2 are “hate crimes”
- Of every 20,000 robberies, 6 are “hate crimes”
- Of every 20,000 aggravated assaults, 24 are “hate crimes”
The vast majority of reported hate crimes fall under the category of “intimidation,” which includes threatening words and conduct. In effect, hate crimes law would make the act of name calling against a politically correct group a criminal offense.
Protecting Sexual Orientation Under Law Serves to Further the Gay Agenda
By codifying sexual orientation as a protected attribute under hate crimes law, gay activists will be able to more effectively press their case for recognition of same-sex “marriage” and domestic partner benefits.
**ACTION ITEM**
The senate version of the hate crimes law, SB 87 by Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), has already been voted out of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and been certified for the Senate Intent calendar. A bill must receive a 2/3 (21 votes) vote from the full Senate in order to be considered on the floor.
Please contact the Republican senators and ask them to vote against bringing
SB 87 up for consideration on the floor. The Republican members of the Senate are listed below:
| Member: |
Austin Phone: |
| Teel Bivins (R-Amarillo) |
(512) 463-0131 |
| Buster Brown (R-Lake Jackson) |
(512) 463-0117 |
| John Carona (R-Dallas) |
(512) 463-0116 |
| Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock) |
(512) 463-0128 |
| Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) |
(512) 463-0124 |
| Chris Harris (R-Arlington) |
(512) 463-0110 |
| Tom Haywood (R-Wichita Falls) |
(512) 463-0130 |
| Mike Jackson (R-La Porte) |
(512) 463-0111 |
| Jon Lindsay (R-Houston) |
(512) 463-0107 |
| Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) |
(512) 463-0109 |
| Steve Ogden (R-Bryan) |
(512) 463-0105 |
| Bill Ratliff (R-Mt. Pleasant) |
(512) 463-0101 |
| Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) |
(512) 463-0108 |
| David Sibley (R-Waco) |
(512) 463-0122 |
| Todd Staples (R-Palestine) |
(512) 463-0103 |
| Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) |
(512) 463-0125 |
|
