S.909 - Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act

A bill to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes. view all titles (3)

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  • Short: Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as introduced.
  • Popular: Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as introduced.
  • Official: A bill to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes. as introduced.

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Displaying 1-30 of 451 total comments.


  • AntonGolovin May 05, 2009 1:28pm
    Overall Rating: 5.1  |  Login to Rate  |  9 of 20 found useful.

    The problem with this bill is that a state-mandated framework for eventually persecuting Christians is being silently put in place. If you do not begin to actively stand up now, your pastor, who recites the Holy Bible, and you, who listens to it and believes in it, will possibly end up in jail for inciting "hate".

    Notice the abstract nature of this word - "hate". Sounds like someone really hates Christians - with real hate - and wants us persecuted, just like during the times of the Soviet Union or the ten persecutions of the Roman Empire.

    Wake up now!!!

  • Filtered Comment [show]

  • fosocrom May 07, 2009 4:03pm
    Overall Rating: 8.5  |  Login to Rate  |  5 of 6 found useful.

    please clarify what you just said. If I understand you correctly, you believe it is wrong for Christians to preach the Bible if it says, "Homosexuality is a sin." Am I right?

  • Filtered Comment [show]

  • AntonGolovin May 16, 2009 1:57am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate  |  3 of 4 found useful.

    In reading the comments, you will notice that some comments are "filtered". If you unfilter them for yourself, you will discover that most of them are from conservatives. I do not think this site is so liberal; rather, I think we are witnessing someone who is purposefully "deleting" Christian opinions, for the most part.

  • desertlife4me Jun 25, 2009 8:05am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    you should take note that the comity in question is stacking the deck in there favor 5 to 1.Allowing only 1 representative that apposes this to 5 supporters.This bill is a threat to fredom of speech plain & simpel.Both Australia & Canada have such laws.Australia recenly took freedom of speech from its people.

  • TinaStorm Jul 20, 2009 5:57pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate  |  0 of 1 found useful.

    This bill has little to do with freedom of speach, more to the point, it pushes for stronger sentencing for violent criminals who attack specific groups of people, under which Christians are included.

  • michaelwilliams Nov 04, 2009 3:46pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    That doesn't really make much sense. If someone get attacked because he is wearing red, and he happens to be black, the person's sentance would be increased because the victim was black, regardless of the actual reason for the crime.
    Also, if two groups rallied at the same time, one being a gay rights group and the other anti-gay protesters, and a fight broke out, the protestors would get extra punishment for committing a "hate crime," whereas the gay rights group had just as much hate for the protestors.
    This sort of legislation only serves to establish a "thought police" to decide if the defendent had "hate" toward the victims race, sexual orientation, etc. and increase his punishment because of it. If one attacks a gay women, why should he recieve a harsher punishment than one who attacks a strait women. After all, gays want equality, don't they?

  • msmaam Jul 02, 2009 11:54pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate  |  1 of 3 found useful.

    1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
    Leviticus 18:22 Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.
    1 Corinthians 5:26…God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

  • desertlife4me Jul 08, 2009 12:28am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    Some yaers back not to long ago thow.A jewish rabbi spoke i Austrailia on islam.He spoke directly from the koran.Because what he had read shead a dark light on islam, the muslams of that comunity used lust such a law to accuse him of a hate crime.The judge told the rabbi the truth is know defence & sentanced him to a prison sentance.This bill is about limting freedom of speach & eventualy taking it away.just ask the citesens of Austrailia. Oh & make sure you ask them in secret they know longer have freedom of speach.

  • pandawa Jul 13, 2009 2:38pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10 NKJV

  • TinaStorm Jul 13, 2009 5:22pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    Do you love me? Do you love your gay neighbor, your lesbian neighbor, your black neighbor, your asian neighbor, your handicapped neighbor, your Jewish neighbor, your transgender neighbor?
    You seem to know something of Gods Laws, but what do you consider adultery? Jesus said lusting after your neighbors wife, even if you never acted on it, was the same a commiting adultery.

  • TinaStorm Jul 20, 2009 7:44pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    MsMaam: There is no 1 Corinthians 5:26 (5:1-13); Leviticus 18:22 (thanks for the OLD TESTAMENT review, while the Bible may describe a gay sex act, the word Homosexuality dose not appear in the Holy Bible but we are commanded by TEN COMMANDMENTS.
    1 John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin;..."
    1 John 3:11 "For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another."
    Who do you think you are to prescribe what each individual's nature is?

  • TinaStorm Jul 10, 2009 9:47pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    This bill actually requires the ministry to take responsibility for what they say and what they preach. In my job, I am heald responsible for what I say, what I write, and how I direct people. Why shouldn't we expect the same of the cleargy?

  • acgtrplyr Jul 16, 2009 9:27pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    No the bill makes it so we Pastors cannot teach that the sin of homosexuality is a sin and wrong. We pastors who preach against the sin of homosexuality also preach that we are to love the Sinner not the Sin.

  • TinaStorm Jul 16, 2009 10:25pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    If I may, the Bible says so little about sexuality, why bother. If God had said anything about 'homosexual men' or 'lesbian women', would he have been so judging. Sexuality is truely not a choice. For centuries, monistaries have housed and employeed the 'Eunochs' monks. Have you ever wondered why, could it be because religous spirited people drove these people into that corner. The only choice for lesbians or homosexuals is "do I engage in a sexual life that pleases me, or do I abstain." This is where swinging came from. Couples maried, then one encouraging the other to invite other sexual partners into their sex life. Which is the worse sin?

  • TinaStorm Jul 16, 2009 10:32pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    One of the Ten Commandments is: Thou shalt not Kill.
    Does this mean we should not physically kill our neighbors.
    Does it mean we shouldnt Kill our neighbors SPIRITUALLY.
    Or, Could it mean BOTH.
    I am not a minister, but my grandfather was. Sometimes we take the scriptures all to literally.
    God said not to commit adultry, but Jesus said that to look upon your neighbors wife or ass, and desire them with lust without doing anything physically, was the same as committing the sin because you had lust in your heart.

  • driman03 Jul 17, 2009 10:58am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    acqtrplyr, you're wrong. Either you didn't read the bill and you're just going off what you've heard other christians say, or you lack the ability to understand what you read (which for your church's sake I hope isn't the case).

  • pastorbill6 Jul 08, 2009 3:07pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    I am trusting a country which was founded with prayer in the meeting of the continental convention drafting the constitution , would not violate the Christian conscience of the nation by restricting the free speech of ministers in the pulpit. Reprobation a means believing wrong is right and right wrong. To force ministers to leave out large portions of the bible would not allow the faith upon which this nation was founded to be taught. This brings an endorsement of reprobation in the chambers of government. It is wrong to descriminate regarding color, creed or sex in the nation, but the chruch needs to be free to teach the Bible. I fear we are moving toward a worship of democracy, the new idolitry.
    Rev. Dr. William Schillereff

  • LilSuter May 18, 2009 6:56pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate  |  0 of 1 found useful.

    I agree with you Ruthann as it appears that many to judge others before they judge themselves. The teaching of religions show that those who believed in Jesus were also the ones who sent him to die. Jesus was different but the people feared this difference as much as those who may have a fear of snakes wish to destroy what they fear. "ANY ACT OF HARM IS CONSIDERED TO BE AGAINST THE LAW. Now if only the law enforcement agencies of all the states, cities, town, and etc...would enforce this the world might become a better place. For those of you who wish to not allow the above and including gender identity then I think your fear is questioning your own sexuality.

  • 2100km May 24, 2009 2:07am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    What follower of Jesus other than Judas Iscariot sent him to die?

  • pandawa Jul 13, 2009 2:35pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    you sure as hell did

  • echo52 Jun 24, 2009 2:16pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    Your lack of Biblical understanding is pitiful at best. Jesus followers did not send him to die. The Jewish religious leadership was the ones that sent him to his death. The questioning one's own sexuality is some more liberal pro homosexual mumbo jumbo double talk you liberals use. Sounds like you are a bit hetrophobic to me.

  • desertlife4me Jul 08, 2009 12:18am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    Those who wished to silence Jesus were those that accused him.His disipels & those who followed him simply feared for ther lives from a socialis government who had lost there balance of power in government.Sound familiar.A leader telling the senate what they have to do.Open your eyes to history so the tyranny is not repeated.over simplifing it a little so if you want to know the truth perhaps you should realy study it with an open heart.

  • desertlife4me Jul 08, 2009 12:17am
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    Those who wished to silence Jesus were those that accused him.His disipels & those who followed him simply feared for ther lives from a socialis government who had lost there balance of power in government.Sound familiar.A leader telling the senate what they have to do.Open your eyes to history so the tyranny is not repeated.over simplifing it a little so if you want to know the truth perhaps you should realy study it with an open heart.

  • Springy Jul 21, 2009 2:06pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    "Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. (Acts 20:26,27 NASB)
    "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires" (2Timothy 4:3)

    We cannot censor the Bible and we cannot be held responsible if someone carries it beyond the Bible and commits violence. To say that preaching the truth incites violence is taking away the responsibility from the criminal. Criminal's have only themselves to blame. If we were to "censor" the Bible it would be a violation of a very plain prohibition against leaving out the whole counsel (written word) of God. See the above verses.

  • TinaStorm Jul 23, 2009 9:32pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    For you Springy, I am not going to give you a Bible study chanllange, all I have to say is Jesus was the one who died on the cross for our sins, NOT YOU. I'd suggest you get off the cross, stop judging your brothers and sisters, and practice the TEN (10) COMMANDMENTS. It is truely the only rules or laws GOD set for the Gentiles.

  • truthseeker Sep 01, 2009 11:00pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate

    The Ten Commandments were never intended for Gentiles. God gave the Ten Commandments to the Isralites. The Word is the Word, it says what it says and means what it means no matter how you try to twist it, it remains the same.

  • AntonGolovin May 09, 2009 11:32pm
    Overall Rating: 8.0  |  Login to Rate  |  7 of 9 found useful.

    "The problem with this bill is that a state-mandated framework for eventually persecuting Christians is being silently put in place. If you do not begin to actively stand up now, your pastor, who recites the Holy Bible, and you, who listens to it and believes in it, will possibly end up in jail for inciting "hate".

    Notice the abstract nature of this word - "hate". Sounds like someone really hates Christians - with real hate - and wants us persecuted, just like during the times of the Soviet Union or the ten persecutions of the Roman Empire.

    Wake up now!!!"

    Please, do not delete this comment. It was in 1st place on this site. If this bill passes, all that remains is to insert a clause that criminalizes "incitement of hate".

    Then, the New Testament can be declared "hate literature", and pastors and God-fearing Christians sent to the gulags.

  • AntonGolovin May 09, 2009 11:40pm
    Overall Rating: 5.0  |  Login to Rate  |  1 of 2 found useful.

    I apologize, it was not deleted, it was filtered by someone, i.e., rendered invisible, for all intents and purposes, to the reader.



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