[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 24110]
[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 July, 17, 2004, a 32-year-old gay man left a local Austin, TX, bar 
with two men, and walked home. The two men, Donald Bockman and Darren 
Gay, returned to the victim's home later that evening where they 
proceed to beat him and sexually assault him. Police say the two men 
dragged, tied-up, beat, cut, then sexually assaulted the victim. 
According to police, this attack was motivated by the victim'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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