[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2000]
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 to 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.
  On October 2, 2004, Daniel Fetty was brutally beaten to death. Fetta, 
a 39-year-old deaf and gay man, was allegedly struck repeatedly with 
bricks and boards by three men in his home town of Waverly, OH. His 
body was stripped of all clothing and thrown into a dumpster. It is 
believed that the motivation behind this brutal attack was the sexual 
orientation of the victim.
  I believe that the Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, 
to defend them against the harm that comes 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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