Christian Groups Continue Objections To Hate Crimes Law

Even though the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been signed by the President (see prior posting), some conservative Christian groups continue a campaign to challenge it. Yesterday, according to a press release from Vision America, "a coalition of concerned Christians" held a press conference outside the Justice Department featuring speakers who denounced "gay activists" and who pointed to actions in Britain under its Equality Act regulations. Leaders of the press conference presented a letter from Liberty Counsel (full text) to the Attorney General arguing that the new legislation exceeds Congress' commerce clause powers and "is already acting as a prior restraint on the speech of many concerned, law abiding, citizens." The letter requests that the Justice Department adopt special procedures for review and advance approval before initiating a prosecution against an individual or member of the clergy for speaking in a manner that incites a hate crime.