This Month on Viewpoint - November

Sunday, November 29 @ 12:00 PM
Thursday, December 3 @ 7:30 PM


Hate Crimes Bill
In October, President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act with the purpose of strengthening existing federal hate crimes law.  Several religious groups have expressed concern that this will hinder religious liberty and free speech, while supporters are hailing it as the first major federal gay rights legislation.  How is a hate crime defined and will this bill make a difference?

Guests:
David Barkey, Esq., Anti-Defamation League
Brandon Park, D.Min., Wayside Baptist Church
Robert Rosenwald, Esq., ACLU of Florida
James Summers, Northwest Baptist Church

Comments

[Dave]

Sounds like the Hate Crime Bill protects gays, lesbians, transsexuals, blacks, latins, Asians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Islam, ... Who is left unprotected by this law? White Christians. Secondly, why is a minority that has his/her limbs cut off and burned any more horrific than someone who isn't a minority?

[Marshall Price]

I'd like to respond to Dave's comment, posted November 30, 2009. He is wrong about "White Christians". White is a race, so it is covered. Christian is a religion, so it is covered. As for whether a crime is horrific or not is utterly irrelevant. What is relevant is the type of hatred evident (and admissible in court) in the intent and behavior of the perpetrator.

[dave]

So it is your contention that if four Christians beat the tar out of a Muslim the trial outcome would be no different than if four Muslims beat a Christian? Good luck on that one. If four heteros beat a gay guy compared to four gays beating a hetero same outcome? No the gays would go into their life history of being alienated, humiliated, and past injustices using the sympathy card. I am sorry, I just don't believe the Hate Crime law would be used equally.

[Chris]

There are very few crimes committed out of love. Aren't all crimes, pretty much, "hate" crimes. We need to do a better job prosecuting criminals under the current laws before we add new ones. A convicted killer can sit on death row for more than ten years. The ACLU is slowly killing this country. God bless America. We need it!!!

[Hum Bug]

Which god would you like to have bless America - the muslim, the catholic, the mormon, one of the greek gods, or perhaps your very own imaginary friend -figment of a not so imaginative imagination?