[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 191 (Thursday, December 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S15456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE MATTHEW SHEPARD ACT OF 2007

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I wish 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.
  Steven Domer, an Oklahoma City, OK, resident, went missing on October 
26, 2007. The following day, police found his torched car and his body 
was found in a nearby ravine days later. On November 7, 2007, Darrell 
Madden was arrested for the shooting death of his friend Bradley 
Qualls. Both men were seen with the 62-year-old Domer the day of his 
disappearance and are believed to have been involved in his murder. 
Madden has been charged with murder for allegedly strangling Domer to 
death. Investigations have uncovered that Madden was a sergeant in a 
White supremacist group and targeted Domer because he was gay. Domer's 
murder was allegedly a rite of passage for Qualls to rise to the next 
level within the organization. The district attorney prosecuting the 
case will present evidence to prove that Domer was targeted because he 
was gay. Oklahoma is one of seventeen States whose hate crime laws do 
not cover those targeted based on sexual orientation.
  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 Matthew 
Shepard 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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