Amendments limit extension of federal hate-crimes law

[WillParkinson]

Amendments limit extension of federal hate-crimes law

(Washington, D.C.) The Senate passed several amendments Monday afternoon that would limit the extension of the federal hate-crimes law the Advocate reports.

The amendments were attached to the Defense Department reauthorization bill and added by Alabama senator Jeff Sessions, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Sessions gave a speech explaining that he does not believe the current hate-crimes laws should be extended to include gender identity and sexual orientation protections. The Senator believes that since the number of hate crimes has decreased, the Matthew Shepard Act was attached to the Defense package too soon.

“We need to be careful that statutes that become permanent parts of our criminal code are supported by evidence and principle,” Sessions said. “I don’t think that our focus here is to deal with symbolic legislation that’s broad and could expand federal criminal jurisdiction beyond its historic role and where the facts do not support the need.”

The amendments added to the Defense package require that hate crimes be identified and prosecuted on “a neutral and objective” basis, allow that the death penalty can be imposed on those who commit hate crimes resulting in death, and require heavier sentencing for attacks on military members and their families.

http://www.365gay.com/news/amendments-limit-extension-of-federal-hate-crimes-law/