Featured - Written by admin on Monday, September 28, 2009 17:01 - 1 Comment
Don’t Let New Hate Crime Laws Chill Free Speech
Hate crime legislation is back and this time has the President’s full support.
This summer the U.S. Senate voted to expand a federal hate crimes law to include “actual or perceived sexual orientation, and gender identity.”
In a late-night maneuver, without any floor debate, Democrats attached hate crimes legislation to a Department of Defense authorization bill, adding homosexuality, transgender and cross-dressing to current protected classes such as religion and national origin. The House of Representatives has already passed similar legislation and President Obama has pledged to sign it into law.
Thanks to Senator Sam Brownback, an amendment was added to the Senate hate crimes bill just before final passage, offering protection for the religious expression and association. If approved, this amendment will help protect religious broadcasters and pastors from the potential jeopardy of 1968 hate crimes laws which directly associate violent offenders with those who “induced” behavior.
Now the two versions of this legislation move to a conference committee where a compromise bill is negotiated that both houses can accept.
We need your help to send a strong message in support of the Brownback amendment.
The conference committee members must hear from thousands of citizens concerned about religious liberty.
Please act now and let the conference committee know that you support the Brownback amendment. (Take Action Here)
With your help, TalkPAC will send thousands of faxes and petitions directly to conference committee members letting them know that we will not stand by while our rights are eroded.
1 Comment
Cindy Berk
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I am very, very concerned. Free Speech is one of the basic pillars of the Constitution.
Now I see more and more threats to FREE speech. I think it is wrong to force a radio station to pay a fee, especially in these very terrrible economic hell like conditions because they do it in another country. And I am positive that when you in power let your peers know about the European counter parts are paying, you will not tell them that they receive government subsidies. And then let’s say that your plan becomes law, we know it is not just for the millions you will get, but it is also to put out of business all the stations that may be airing some music or subjects that do not say what propaganda you want them to spell out over our free airwaves. And you know, as well as I do, that some of us the people who put you in office, can not afford an extra dollar or two to donate to support our favorite low budget stations..
My old school rock station doesn’t play any country western music. That is why, when I want jazz, I do not choose the old school rock station. I choose talk radio when I want to know what is happening in the world or if there is a wreck on I80 and my ultimate favorite station has the Biblical education I so desperately need and find so calming. It reminds me of who is ultimately in control and what I learn during the different Pastor’s programs teaches me how to be a better human being, which translates into a better woman, wife, mother, neighbor, friend and person who shares the road with you. And for me I’m so fortunate to be able to get these stations for free. Sometimes I can donate $5.00. My husband has been laid off 3 times in the last 6 months. And that could have been the end of our rocky marriage, but it wasn’t because of my Biblical education in faith and learning of how close God watches over his children. I was calm the entire time and sure enough, he just sent my husband back to work.
And I will say this until the day I die, that having the radio station that is all Christian talk 24/7/365, has helped me and my family and my marriage. Thus also spreading a good mood over my being almost 24/7/365 which means store clerks and my neighbors will get an infusion of kindness into their day which in turn my lead to a nicer day in their own homes.
So, please be very, very careful when you consider toying with what seems like a good idea at first glance, but in the long run will ruin what is now the envy of the world, OUR TRULY FREE SPEECH.