[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2001

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about hate 
crimes legislation I introduced with Senator Kennedy last month. The 
Local Law Enforcement Act of 2001 would add new categories to current 
hate crimes legislation sending a signal that violence of any kind is 
unacceptable in our society.
  I would like to detail a heinous crime that occurred in my own home 
State of Oregon in 1995. A twenty-seven year old Stockton, California 
man murdered a Medford, OR couple, Roxanne Ellis, 53 and Michelle 
Abdill, 42. The women, who ran a property management business, 
disappeared December 4, 1995 after showing the man an apartment for 
rent. He shot them both in the head, and the bodies were left bound and 
gagged in a truck bed. The Stockton man later confessed, saying he 
targeted the women because they were lesbians, and he figured they 
wouldn't have families that would miss them.
  I believe that 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 of 2001 is now a symbol that can become 
substance. I believe that by passing this legislation, we can change 
hearts and minds as well.

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