[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today speak about the need for hate 
crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce hate 
crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate crimes 
law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable in our 
society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to highlight 
a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
  Last summer, a young man and two of his gay friends were on their way 
to a bar. A 38-year-old male confronted one of the gay men and began to 
harass him. When the victim's friend tried to intervene, the assailant 
struck him in the head multiple times with a baseball bat believing 
that he was also gay. He was treated for skull fractures, cranial 
bleeding, and a blood clot in the brain.
  The 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. By passing this 
legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts and minds as 
well.

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