[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23741]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the need for 
hate crimes legislation. Each Congress, Senator Kennedy and I introduce 
hate crimes legislation that would add new categories to current hate 
crimes law, sending a signal that violence of any kind is unacceptable 
in our society. Likewise, each Congress I have come to the floor to 
highlight a separate hate crime that has occurred in our country.
  On February, 25, 2005, Thomas Stockwell was on the campus of North 
Carolina at Chapel Hill, when six men attacked him. Before chasing 
Stockwell down the street and beating him up, the men were heard 
yelling sexually derogatory slurs at him. According to reports, the 
motivation for the attack was Stockwell's sexual orientation.
  I believe that our Government's first duty is to defend its citizens, 
in all circumstances, from threats to them at home. The Local Law 
Enforcement Enhancement Act is a major step forward in achieving that 
goal. I believe that by passing this legislation and changing current 
law, we can change hearts and minds as well.

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