The BulletinBy: Joe Murray, The Bulletin
07/17/2007
Last week, Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., introduced the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Kennedy and Smith introduced the measure by adding it as an amendment to the Senate Defense Reauthorization bill.
According to the text of the bill, its purpose is "to provide federal assistance to states, local jurisdictions and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes," and the measure would expand existing federal hate crimes law to include classes such as sexual orientation, gender and gender identity.
Presently, a 1969 law serves as a national hate crimes law and "prohibits willful injury, intimidation, or interference or attempt to do so, by force or threat of force of any person because of race, color, religion, or national origin" because that person is engaged in activities that include, but are not limited to, admission to public schools, application for employment and receiving any government benefits.
