[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H10840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PASS H.R. 3081, THE HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT

  (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, history has taught us that 
unchecked ignorance, intolerance and hatred always yields violence. The 
fact that we have not yet learned this lesson was made strikingly clear 
this week with the brutal beating and murder of Matthew Shepard, a 
Wyoming college student. His killers chose Matthew only because he was 
gay.
  Mr. Speaker, incidences of violent crime are in fact decreasing in 
the United States, yet FBI statistics show that this is not so for 
crimes based on sexual orientation.
  The time has come to recognize these heinous acts for what they are. 
They are hate crimes. The time has come to pass the Hate Crimes 
Prevention Act. We should do it today by unanimous consent.
  It is tragic that yet another life has been lost to ignorance and 
intolerance. How many more will be lost by our silence?

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