[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8168]
[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.
  In the summer of 1988 in Orange County, CA, a group of six youths 
went on a spree of beatings that police say was targeted at gay men. 
Robert Joyce testified that while walking along a stretch of coast 
popular to gay people, he was attacked by the youths. According to 
police reports, Joyce was beaten for several minutes, including being 
hit in the head with a 2-inch metal pipe. He required 80 stitches to 
mend his wounds. During the attack the attackers yelled, ``Kill him! 
kill him! kill the faggot!'' The group of youths attacked several other 
gay men in the area before being apprehended by police.
  I believe that the 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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