For Immediate Release
May 3, 2007
Media Contact: Ray Yonkura
(202) 225-2676
Jordan Says Hate Crimes Bill Promotes Unequal Justice
Washington, DC -- Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) today voted against H.R. 1592, known as the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, calling the measure "an unprecedented departure from the principle of equal justice under law."
The bill, sponsored by Congressman John Conyers (D-Michigan), would provide additional punishment for crimes determined to have been perpetrated based upon the victim's religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
"It makes no sense to me that crimes committed against one citizen should be punished any more or less than crimes committed against another," said Jordan. "Violent crimes that are not aimed at a certain class of people, like those committed recently at Virginia Tech, are just as reprehensible as those committed for other reasons."
Jordan also wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) expressing concern about the bill, 'thought crime' provisions and their potential to categorize individuals who share spiritual or gospel messages as hate criminals.
In the letter, Jordan noted that the Board of Supervisors in Pelosi's hometown of San Francisco passed a resolution denouncing the local Catholic Charities office as "hateful" for its decision not to send adoptive children to the homes of same-sex couples.
"This so-called hate crimes bill not only discards the fundamental American legal principle of equal justice, it also lays the groundwork to criminalize individuals and groups that might not share the liberal values of places like San Francisco," Jordan said.
"It is rather ironic that on this, the National Day of Prayer--a day where Americans gather to celebrate our religious heritage--liberals are passing a bill that could deem their prayerful voices as 'hateful,'" Jordan added.
