Text of AZ HM 2002 (2006)

REFERENCE TITLE: opposing federal hate crimes legislation State of Arizona House of Representatives Forty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session 2006 HM 2002 Introduced by Representatives Pearce, Gorman, Gray C, Murphy, Senators Johnson: Burns, Harper A MEMORIAL urging the congress of the united states to defeat pending hate crimes legislation. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE) To the Congress of the United States: Your memorialist respectfully represents: Whereas, two similar bills currently pending in Congress, S. 1145 and H.R. 2662, would give federal assistance to states and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes. These bills, the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2005 and the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2005, respectively, would greatly expand the power of the federal government to prosecute purported hate crimes committed anywhere in the country; and Whereas, opponents remain concerned that such bills would violate the right of free speech, as well as give the Department of Justice expanded powers over local authorities to prosecute many types of violent crimes. In addition, such legislation, if enacted into law, could punish clergy and other religious speakers for reading Biblical passages or preaching their Biblical views from the pulpit; and Whereas, so-called "hate crimes" legislation such as this has always been defeated in the past, for the very reason critics remain opposed to it today. In recent sessions of Congress, such misguided legislation has come increasingly close to passage, an event that would result in an unparalleled impediment to free speech in our country. Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, prays: 1. That the Congress of the United States take immediate action to defeat current hate crimes legislation. 2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.