[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14077]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

 Mr. SMITH. Madam President, I rise today to speak about the 
need for hate crimes legislation. On May 1, 2003, Senator Kennedy and I 
introduced the Local Law Enforcement Act, a bill that would add new 
categories to current hate crimes law, sending a signal that violence 
of any kind is unacceptable in our society.
  I would like to describe a terrible crime that occurred in Mesquite, 
TX. On October 4, 2001, Vasudev Patel, a 49-year-old Indian gas station 
owner, was shot to death during an armed robbery. His killer told 
police that he was motivated by vengeance for the terrorist attacks as 
he allegedly had lost a relative in the World Trade Center. A security 
camera recorded the armed man walking into the station, ordering the 
owner to give him all of the money before shooting him. Unable to open 
the cash register, however, the man fled without taking any of the 
money.
  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 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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