HB 25-08: Hate Crimes Prevention Act (Debating)

[Joseph Cao]

Aye.

[Gracile]

Aye

[Mike Thick]

The bill has enough votes to pass. Representatives have until the end of the 72-hour window to vote, or change their votes.

[Mike Thick]

Voting is now closed.

Ayes:
gracile
Joseph Cao
Razze
SevenEleven
Ted Bessell

Nays:
Muad'dib

Not Voting:
Elcaspar
HCP
Winfield

By a vote of 5-1-0-3, this bill passes.

[Mike Thick]

AN ACT
To amend the Atlasian Criminal Code and reestablish an alternative sentencing schedule for hate crimes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

Section I. Title

i. The long title of this bill shall be the "Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., and Latisha King Hate Crimes Prevention Act." It may be cited as the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act."

Section II. Reinstatement of Federal Hate Crime Sentencing Schedule
i. Section IV, Clause 4 of the Reforming Criminal Law Act is hereby repealed, and the former 18 U.S. Code § 249, imposing an alternative sentencing schedule for “hate crimes," hereby reinstated.

House of Representatives
Passed the house 5-1-0-3

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

Why do we have to have special labels protecting special interest groups and more government? If you do a battery(attack or violence) against someone you go to jail because of that. I don't support such a bill that expands government and will be used by the left to attack peoples liberties.

No one should be treated differently because they're of a different race or sex. We're all equals and that is what I believe.

Voting is now closed.

Ayes:
gracile
Joseph Cao
Razze
SevenEleven
Ted Bessell

Nays:
Muad'dib

Not Voting:
Elcaspar
HCP
Winfield

By a vote of 5-1-0-3, this bill passes.

As the only dissenting vote on this bill, I would like to advise that I was torn on this issue. I can see the value of both sides of the argument. However I felt that overall the point of representative-elect, Jessica, needed to be represented in the final vote. I could have easily voted; Aye, Nay or simply Abstained.