[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 10949]
[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 in March of last 
year. 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 describe a terrible crime that occurred July 29, 2000 
in Mahwah, NJ. Two gay men were beaten in an apartment complex parking 
lot. The assailant, William Courain, 26, was at an apartment complex 
party when he began making obscene remarks to several of the guests 
about their sexual orientation. He left the party and confronted two 
men in the parking lot, making derogatory comments about their sexual 
orientation before attacking them. Witnesses say he began punching and 
kicking the two victims, one of whom suffered bleeding from the mouth 
and eyes and was treated at a local hospital. Mr. Courain was arrested 
and charged with aggravated assault, bias harrassment and bias assault 
in connection with the incident.
  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 and changing 
current law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

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