[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 83 (Wednesday, June 16, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S6874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I 
introduced the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a bill that would 
add new categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that 
violence of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
  In January 2000, a gay Mississippi man, was murdered by Brett David 
Kabat. Tolbert was kidnapped from a Biloxi gay bar and brutally 
strangling him and beating him to death before dumping his body in 
Alabama and stealing his truck. Because his friends say Tolbert was 
gay, was last seen at a gay bar, and the nature of his murder was 
particularly brutal, it is believed that Tolbert was targeted because 
he was gay. When Tolbert's body was discovered, he was beaten beyond 
recognition with just a few teeth left in his mouth.
  I believe that Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, to 
defend them against the harms that come out of hate. The Local Law 
Enforcement Enhancement Act is a symbol that can become substance. I 
believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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