Judy Shepard on Capitol Hill

Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, was on Capitol Hill with Majority Leader Harry Reid to push for passage of the Hate Crimes bill. She really is an inspiration. Her son was murdered in a vicious anti-gay hate crime in 1998.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• judy shepard
• matthew shepard
• hate crimes
• harry reid

[Wombat66614]

Oh you mean the Defense spend bill, right? The treasonus Senators attached the Hate crimes bill to the defense spending bill because they knew it could NEVER stand alone. So rather than defund the military, they decide to bow at the feet of the LGBT community. Real class politicians! Run all the weasels out I say!

[Wombat66614]

Well Maison, The FBI and other agencies concluded and verified that Matt Shepards murder, while tragic as it was was due to a robbery gone bad and had nothing to do with being gay as the LGBT community would push you to believe. Look it up for yourself. The 2 animals that killed this kid will be spending the rest of there lives in the pen, never to get out. That was without the "hate crimes" law. What are they going to do, throw them in jail for 1 1/2 lives??

[Jacksonholenativ]

Sorry trojoe but hate crimes legislation will help the Federal Government (FBI) and other organizations in their efforts to find out the truth and prosecute those who have committed a hate crime and override the prejudice and bigotry that may be and often is found in some U.S. communities. It is this bigotry and prejudice that can and often does protect those guilty of hate crimes from being fully prosecuted by the law.

[Maison2Go]

It's not redundant, but I'm also not interested in engaging a YT debate about the HCB. I frequent message boards for this type of discussion, thx.

[trojoe]

I mean seriously - read what you wrote: "Enacting hate crimes bill will send a clear message, that targeting and murdering someone simply because of who they are is wrong." Really? Murder is wrong? I'm pretty sure we have laws against that sort of thing *already.*

[trojoe]

Clearly, I don't understand. You're right. It's not as though MURDER "sends a message of terror and fear throughout (a) community." I guess murder only matters when it's a member of a minority group, right? So tell me, where is the line drawn? When do we stop piling legislation upon legislation? Seriously, people don't murder people they like. Hate Crime Laws do nothing more than waste time and money. If life in prison or the death penalty aren't enough to deter murder - how will a HCL?

[Maison2Go]

Clearly you don't understand the core issue is. Yes murder is murder and it's terrible, however murdering a member of a certain group simply because of their actual or perceived membership in said group, sends a message of terror and fear throughout that community. Enacting hate crimes bill will send a clear message, that targeting and murdering someone simply because of who they are is wrong. It itn's redundant, I encourage you to read more about it because my character count is up lol

[trojoe]

First, I'm gay. Second, I have nothing but sympathy and respect for the Shepards and every other family ever effected by crime.

...but...

Hate crime laws are just redundant law. They waste taxpayer money and time and allow politicians to pad their resume... all to do a job that 'regular' laws should be doing. Money, time, and redundancy -- and still no law will ever stop something from occurring. Law punishes, it doesn't prevent. Does it matter 'why' someone is killed? Isn't the result the same?

[aicram5790]

So glad to have the voice of a strong and smart mother for this just cause.

[totakikay]

Judy Shepard is a wonderful mother and activist. Today is July 14, 2009 and its time to have some control on American history. I read about this civil rights bill online and it has strong support. Call your State Senators today and urge them to vote "YES" on 111th US CONGRESS SENATE BILL 909! Thank you to everyone who cares and is standing up for this cause.