[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 26943-26944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. 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 Enhancement 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.
  Mr. Robert Maricle, a bisexual man from Salinas, CA, disappeared from 
his community on December 14, 2002. Almost 4 months later, his body was 
discovered in a shallow grave. Mr. Maricle was reported missing after 
going out for drinks with three strangers. Police

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allege that those three strangers are responsible for Mr. Maricle's 
death, and committed the crime in part because of his sexual 
orientation.
  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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