[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 101 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S8373]
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 January 23, 1981, in Chicago, IL, Stevie Lynch, a mentally 
retarded man, was attacked while walking to a friend's house. According 
to police, two men stopped Lynch on the street taunting him about his 
disability and trying to make him drink beer. They then pulled him into 
a passageway punching him and beating his head against the wall. Lynch 
suffered fractures to his skull and jaw. His disability appeared to be 
the sole motivation for the attack.
  I believe that 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. I 
believe that by passing this legislation and changing current law, we 
can change hearts and minds as well.

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