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2009 Senate Bill 497: Create “bias-motivated” crime
  1. Introduced by Sen. Hansen Clarke (D) on April 30, 2009, to establish a new “bias-motivated” criminal offense for a person who selects the target of a violent crime or property crime based on victim’s disability; gender; national origin or ancestry; race, color, or ethnicity; religion; sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression of gender; or a person’s or group’s association with one or more of these. Violations would be subject to up to two years in prison and a $5,000 fine if the underlying (“predicate”) crime is a misdemeanor, and up to 50 percent more than the sentence authorized for the predicate crime if it is a felony. A person could not be convicted of both the predicate crime and the “bias-motivated” crime (prosecutors would have to choose one or the other)..
    • Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 30, 2009.

Comments

Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )  by Mike Hignite on June 16, 2009 

 It is a waste of time and energy to try to pass a law punishing thoughts.  Just have the law punish crimes and let it go.  How do you prove it?  Based on group identification?  Library books read?  Political parties, or lack thereof? 


Do we really care why someone stole a car?  Whether the victim is a member of a vulnerable class or not doesn't affect what was done. 


Let's not grandstand to various groups to show how politically correct you are.



Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )  by albaby2 on May 18, 2009 

 I agree-but my "agenda" is equality. Hate crime laws apply to everyone. It's been an interesting discussion.  Regards



Re: 2009 Senate Bill 497 (Create “bias-motivated” crime )  by inform4 on May 18, 2009 

 albaby2 -- let's just agree to disagree, because I stand behind what our Founders bestowed on us -- and you stand behind your agenda.  I will no longer discuss this issue again with you because it is nothing but twirling a windmill.



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