[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 166 (Tuesday, December 20, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S14173]
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 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 Aug. 17, 2001 in Reno, NV, police and the F.B.I. arrested Adam 
Ezerksi for the murders of several gay men in Florida and San 
Francisco, CA. Ezerksi, a teenager, was suspected of being a serial 
killer of gay men. He confessed to the murder of Anthony Martilotto, a 
gay man in Weston, FL. who was found dead in a Fort Lauderdale hotel 
room. Police have linked Ezerksi to another murder of a gay man in 
Florida. Ezerksi was discovered while the police and the F.B.I. were 
pursuing another serial killer of gay men in the San Francisco area.
  Our Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, in all 
circumstances, from threats to them at home. The Local Law Enforcement 
Enhancement Act is a major step forward in achieving that goal. I 
believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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