Issue Position: Hate Crimes

Issue Position

The David Ray Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 or H.R. 254 directs the United States Sentencing Commission to study the issue of adult recruitment of juveniles to commit hate crimes and to amend Federal sentencing guidelines for adults who recruit juveniles to participate in hate crimes. Furthermore, the bill expands punishments for individuals who attack or harm any person because of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Although I can support the intent of the legislation - to end crimes based on bigotry - I have concerns on the details of the possible implementation of this bill. This bill removes local law enforcement discretion from criminal investigations and places an overshadowing authority over local law enforcement investigation by specifically defining sentencing for a hate crime. I also worry about the potential to have law enforcement focus on one specific set of crimes at the expense of dealing with equally devastating crimes. I joined 198 of my colleagues in voting against a similar "Hate Crimes Amendment" in the 109 th Congress because it stripped local law enforcement officials of their power to perform their jobs in an effective manner.

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