Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

May 1, 2009

On April 29, the House of Representatives continued the federal government?s war on the principle of equal protection under law by enacting the Federal Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.

The measure would expand the categories of people now given special protected status under hate crimes laws. At present, those categories include victims of crimes supposedly inspired by animus against particular race, color, or national origin; the new bill would include crimes based on the victims?s sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

The constitutional principle of equal protection requires that both criminals and victims are given equal treatment under law. Hate crimes laws violate that principle by treating certain offenders more harshly than others, and some victims as specially protected minorities.

Hate crime enforcement ventures into Orwellian territory by authorizing government to treat personal opinions and attitudes as elements of a crime. This has no proper place in a free society.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.