Our New Hate Crimes Law

[AntennaFarmer]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/10/obama-to-sign-hate-crimes-bill-wednesday.html



This one slipped up on me. It seems that H.R. 2647 which is a defense authorization act recently made its way from Congress to the President's desk. Buried deep inside this bill is the `Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act' which makes "sexual orientation" a protected civil right.

The hate crimes bill might have stalled had it not been attached to the defense bill. This is the way it has worked in Washington for years. A controversial bill is attached to some unrelated legislation in order to get it passed. So much for open governement and (good) change.


One thing that I find disturbing is the provision that allows the federal government to prosecute under this hate crimes statute when:

"the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence; or a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice."

In other words - the Federal Government can prosecute if they don't like the way a state trial turns out. A "not guilty" verdict in a state court may only be a prelude to a federal trial. If you thought the fifth amendment protected us from double jeopardy you were wrong! One can be tried twice when both the State the Federal governments have a law regarding a matter. So much for civil rights.

Unless God sees fit to change the President's mind we can expect this "hate crimes" act to be signed into law this week.

A.F.

 

[abcgrad94]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/10/obama-to-sign-hate-crimes-bill-wednesday.html
Unless God sees fit to change the President's mind we can expect this "hate crimes" act to be signed into law this week.

A.F.

I believe the president has promised to sign it.:tear: I pray that God will intervene.

 

[Johnv]

I pray that God will intervene.

God doesn't care about such things. God says "it's your decision to make, so you make it".

 

[abcgrad94]

God doesn't care about such things. God says "it's your decision to make, so you make it".

Chapter and verse, please? I happen to know God cares very much. He cares about the little sparrows that fall. Of course he cares if a country, filled with people who bear his name, falls into sin. He is hurt when his people turn their backs to him and turn to wickedness. He cared when he destroyed Sodom, enough to save the few righteous who were there. He cared enough to save Noah and his family.

Yes, God cares about us very much. I certainly wouldn't want to serve a God who didn't, would you?

 

[donnA]

God doesn't care about what we care about, especially when we care about whats biblical? You can't even twist a scripture to support that with.

 

[Johnv]

Of course he cares if a country, filled with people who bear his name, falls into sin.

God doesn't care about what we care about, especially when we care about whats biblical? You can't even twist a scripture to support that with.

Whether one supports or abhors hate crimes legislation is not a scriptural issue.

 

[Andy T.]

Whether one supports or abhors hate crimes legislation is not a scriptural issue.

So you think there are absolutely no Biblical principles that speak to the wisdom of supporting or being against this type of legislation? If so, I pity your religion.

 

[Johnv]

So you think there are absolutely no Biblical principles that speak to the wisdom of supporting or being against this type of legislation?

If you can find any scriptural passages that speak to the issue of hate crimes legislation, then by all means, feel free to post them. Personally, I do not favor hate crimes legislation in general. But my position is based on a personal view. I don't need to pretend that scripture supports or refutes my personal view.

If so, I pity your religion.

As a Christian, my faith consists of a relationship with Christ, not an institutionalized religion.

 

[Trotter]

We are currently under the thumb of an administration who is figuratively, in bed with the gay and lesbian agenda. The big "0 " would sign ANY bill that had something like this attached to it, just to push it through.

Dear Lord, I pray that You help our nation survive this time of complete and utter ungodliness... and help the nation as a whole to see this all for what it is. Lord, I ask You to raise up a person who would follow You in regarding what is right and wrong, and that You would open the eyes of the people to see and vote for this person.

 

[Robert Snow]

Any "hate crime" legislation is not needed and only serves to exalt crimes against one group as being more important than crimes against another.

I believe in this instance it only serves to make the gay/lesbian lifestyle more acceptable in our society.

 

[Trotter]

Any "hate crime" legislation is not needed and only serves to exalt crimes against one group as being more important than crimes against another.

I believe in this instance it only serves to make the gay/lesbian lifestyle more acceptable in our society.

Amen and amen!

 

[Johnv]

I believe in this instance it only serves to make the gay/lesbian lifestyle more acceptable in our society.

Read the legislation (apparantly, I'm the only one who did so). There's nothing in it that exalts one sexual preference over another.

Again, I don't favor hate crimes legislation. But to claim there's some scripture that supports or condemns hate crimes legislation simply isn't so. The issue of hate crimes legislation is not a sciptural issue, it's a societal issue. I don't favor such legislation, but not out of some falsely spiritual pretense.

 

[Andy T.]

Personally, I do not favor hate crimes legislation in general. But my position is based on a personal view. I don't need to pretend that scripture supports or refutes my personal view.

Then what do you base your personal views on? Is it just mere whimsy or do you have some deliberation in the process? Are your views based on the philosophy of men, or some other source? That's the crux - what is the source of your personal views? The Christian's source should be the Bible and its principles. To say certain areas of life have no relationship to God is to marginalize Him and make Him only a god of "spiritual matters" and not the God over all.

 

[KenH]

As a Christian, my faith consists of a relationship with Christ, not an institutionalized religion.

+1 :thumbs:


:jesus:

 

[Johnv]

Then what do you base your personal views on?

Depends on the view. If it's not a spiritual issue, I don't base it on a spiritual view. If it's a spiritual issue, I base it on a spiritual view.

 

[Andy T.]

Depends on the view. If it's not a spiritual issue, I don't base it on a spiritual view. If it's a spiritual issue, I base it on a spiritual view.

That compartmentalization works to put God in a box to where He does not affect every area and thought of our lives, as He should as the sovereign God. Besides, how do you determine what is "spiritual" and what is not?

 

[Andy T.]

As a Christian, my faith consists of a relationship with Christ, not an institutionalized religion.

BTW, when I referenced "religion" I did not reference any institutionalized religion, but religion in its bare sense - i.e., a belief system.

 

[just-want-peace]

God doesn't care about such things. God says "it's your decision to make, so you make it".

If this is truly your belief, then you are most assuredly a man to be pitied!:tear:

I sure hope you don't take this attitude with your kids.:tear:

 

[Johnv]

...how do you determine what is "spiritual" and what is not?

You don't know the difference? I'm surprised that a mature Christian doesn't know how to discern between the two.

That compartmentalization works to put God in a box to where He does not affect every area and thought of our lives...

Sometimes, God's answer is "it's your decision, choose whichever you wish". When I bought a new car, I chose between blue and silver. It wasn't a spiritual issue. There was no need to pray about it before deciding which color to choose.

I sure hope you don't take this attitude with your kids.:tear:

I do. When my daughter asked which college to choose, I encouraged her to pray about it before making the decision. When she asked about which shoes go with her outfit, I told her it's her decision, choose whichever she wishes. If that somehow makes me a bad parent, I question your definition of a bad parent.

 

[Winman]

This is a horrible law. They are trying to forcibly tell you who you can like or not. Now, as a Christian, we are commanded to love all men. But the government cannot tell you who you must love, and they do not have the right to tell you you cannot hate someone. I am not a bigot, but if someone else is, that is their right. How they personally feel inside cannot be controlled, only their actions. We already have laws that protect against murder, or assault, or theft... regardless of a person's race or personal bias toward another person.

People can laugh, but if this passes, within years kids in school will be arrested for calling schoolmates names like Geek, or Fatso. I remember Junior High School, that's all we did was pick on each other, it comes with the age and is normal. Not saying it's good, but it is normal. Well, if this passes kids are going to be locked up.

And we will not be able to tell our feelings about others. If we say a pedophile is a terrible sinner, we might get locked up for a hate crime.