'A crime is a crime, and all victims deserve equal justice,' GOP Rep. Thomas Massie said. 'Adding enhanced penalties for 'hate' tends to endanger other liberties such as freedom of speech.'
Four Lawmakers Vote Against House Bill to Make Lynching Federal Hate Crime, Cite 'Government Overreach'Historic legislation that would make lynching a federal hate crime passed the House by near-unanimous consent Wednesday—with four representatives opposing it.
Sixteen members did not vote. The proposal, however, received broad bipartisan support and passed 410-4. "The Constitution specifies only a handful of federal crimes and leaves the rest to individual states to prosecute," he said."In addition, this bill expands current federal 'hate crime' laws. A crime is a crime, and all victims deserve equal justice. Adding enhanced penalties for 'hate' tends to endanger other liberties, such as freedom of speech."
"This bill today is an overreach of the federal government and encroaches on the principles of federalism," the retiring lawmaker toldin a statement."Hate crimes fall under the jurisdiction of states, which has led to 46 states producing various hate crime statutes. In my home state of Florida, these crimes are already under state government jurisdiction and are punishable up to death.
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