[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7873-7874]
[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

[[Page 7874]]

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 September 22, 
2000 in Roanoke, VA. Ronald Edward Gay, 53, allegedly walked into the 
Backstreet Cafe and opened fire on patrons, killing one person and 
wounding six others. Gay told police that he shot seven people in a gay 
bar because he was angry about jokes people made about his last name. 
Gay has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Danny Lee 
Overstreet. Police have said that Gay admits shooting people ``to get 
rid of, in his term, `faggots,' saying that Gay was upset over the fact 
that people made fun of his last name.''
  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 by passing this legislation we can change hearts 
and minds as well.

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