Why the Hate Crimes Act is Bad for EVERYONE

The so-called hate crimes bill seems to be rearing its ugly head once again. This is a very dangerous piece of legislation that too many people just aren’t taking seriously enough. This is the bill that if passed, among other things, will make it illegal for a pastor or anyone else to say in a public setting that homosexuality is wrong and is a sin. Remember that the Bible says that homosexual behavior is a sin against God, and Christians and Jews believe this. Most other religions feel the same way.

The fact is it won’t matter if you’re a homosexual or straight, it won’t matter if you’re a Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Wiccan, atheist, or whatever. This bill will inarguably affect every man woman and child in the United States. “How is this so,” you ask? Read on my friend.

Consider the First Amendment to the Constitution of The United States of America, ratified on December 15, 1791. It says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Note that “Congress shall make no law… prohibiting the free exercise (of religion)… or abridging the freedom of speech.

Also look at the Eighth Amendment, also ratified on December 15, 1791. It states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Anyone in their right mind would agree that it would be “cruel and unusual” to lock someone in jail for saying homosexuality is wrong when everyone knows that same-sex rapes are common there. Not to mention that such imprisonment would clearly be in violation of the First Amendment in more than one way.

But this isn’t just about whether or not my pastor can speak openly against homosexuality. That is what they want you to think. As a magician distracts you by getting you to look to his right hand, he does something subtle with his left.

While Americans focus on the homosexual issue in this bill, the real truth is being missed completely. This bill is a direct assault on our Constitutional rights!

The First Amendment grants freedom of speech, not freedom of speech as long as it is politically correct. The First Amendment grants freedom of religion without government regulation and interference, not freedom of religion as long as the lobbyists from this group or that agree with it.

Note that I said the First Amendment grants, not guarantees these freedoms. There are no guarantees in life and if we sit idly by our rights, which are already being diminished at an alarming rate, are going to be stripped from us so fast we won’t know what hit us.

Stand up, speak out, and be heard! Pass this message along to anyone who will listen. Pass on to your elected officials that you strongly oppose this bill and the tyranny, yes tyranny, which it represents. The hate crimes act is a reprehensible assault on our Constitutional rights and we must not let it come to pass!