[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7375]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2001

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. In the last Congress 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 December 8, 
2001, in Valencia, CA. A Sikh liquor store shopkeeper was severely 
beaten by two men. The men first entered the store and asked the 
victim, ``Are you Osama bin Laden?'' He tried to explain that he was a 
Sikh and had no association with Bin Laden. The men struck him 
repeatedly with metal poles, causing serious head injuries. The 
shopkeeper managed to escape his attackers after pushing a shelf over 
on top of them, knocking them down.
  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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