"Hate Crimes" Bill Could Be Used to Attack Free Speech of Christians, Experts Say

A "Hate Crimes" bill being proposed in the United States Congress, which proponents say could be used to prosecute violence against certain groups, such as homosexuals, members of certain religious groups, and members of certain races and religions, could actually be used to attack Christians, an expert said today. Brad Dacus of the Pacific Justice Institute said a similar state law has been used to send a grandmother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to jail for sharing her faith on a public street corner.

Janet Folger, a columnist for the conservative news service WorldNetDaily.com, called the proposed bill, the "most dangerous bill in America." She is also President of Faith2Action, which has launched an advertising campaign concerning the proposed bill.

According to the Library of Congress website, the purpose of the bill is to provide Federal assistance to states, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes and for other purposes. According to a copy of the proposed bill, it is necessary because of violence against certain groups, such as homosexuals, members of certain religious groups, and members of certain races. According to the bill, it is also necessary because existing law does not adequately address the issue, and members of persecuted groups often have to cross state lines to escape violence.

Under the bill, the United States Attorney General could provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or any other form of assistance if an incident constitutes a crime of violence, constitutes a felony under state, local, or tribal laws, or is motivated by prejudice based on race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of state, local or tribal hate crime laws.

The bill provides for penalties from 10 years to life imprisonment, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, such as whether or not bodily injury or death was caused, or sexual abuse, or kidnapping occurred.