[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 11509-11510]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2003

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I 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.

[[Page 11510]]

  David Blair, also known as Steve Perry, was found dead by the 
Ketchikan, AK, police department on July 26, 2001. Terry Simpson, Jr., 
19, and Joshua Anderson, 20, were arrested in response to a tip in 
which the informant said he overhead the two men bragging that they 
were planning to ``beat up and rob Blair because he is a fag.''
  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. By 
passing this legislation and changing current law, we can change hearts 
and minds as well.

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