Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation responds to recent statements regarding her sons death by Rep. Virginia Foxx and shares her perspective on the new hate crimes bill in Congress.
The measure passed 249-175 over the objections of conservatives, the Associated Press reports.
The bill -- named for Matthew Shepard, the gay college student who was beaten to death in Wyoming in 1998 -- is a stronger version of a bill that died two years ago under a veto threat from President Bush.
Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten, tortured and murdered in Wyoming. His story is portrayed in the play and film "The Laramie Project".
Personally, I disagree with "hate crime" legislation because all crime can be considered "hateful". Does it really matter why someone is murdered? Murder is by definition a "hate crime". Is there really any need to complicate the laws?
That said, Rep. Foxx's comments are truly "despicable", insensitive and shameful.
Hate Crime status gives the federal government the right to assist in investigating and prosecuting such crimes because they consitute a crime on a larger section of society. That's all it does. Why do you "personally" not get that? What do you "personally" not agree with getting federal assistance in solving a murder? I "personally" think you are ignorant of what the bill actually does.
ReplyDelete