Hate crime bill shot down on first day of legislative session

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Hate crime bill shot down on first day of legislative session

Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 7:05 pm | Updated: 11:21 pm, Mon Jan 19, 2015.
Maura Mazurowski and Max Luong, news editors

A bill that would have added sexual orientation and gender identification to the definition of what constitutes a hate crime in Virginia is dead.

The bill, SB799, failed to gain the votes necessary to advance from the Courts of Justice Committee on Jan. 14, the first day of the General Assembly’s 45-day session. As has been the case in previous years, Senate Republicans voted against the proposition at the state Capitol on a 6-7 vote. Among them was Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R).

“Many members shoot this bill down because of the reluctance to involve motives and classifications within hate crimes,” said Jeff Ryer, Norment’s press secretary.
....

The bill was introduced by Sen. Barbara Favola, an Arlington County Democrat, and was one of several pro-LGBT measures promoted by legislative allies. An existing state law requires that hate crimes be reported to the Virginia State Police; however, it is currently limited to race, religion and ethnic origin.

Favola Bill to Include LGBT in Hate Crime Definition Fails

[Fred Sanders]

1. These are hate crimes adopted by the rest of the civilized world....hate is hearted in America only.

[shenmue]

2. Sigh