Contact Your Senators Today
The United States Senate is considering a bill that will have the effect of stifling your freedoms of speech and religious expression…and we need you to voice your opposition to this legislation today by contacting your senators!
The House of Representatives recently passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which, if passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Obama, would allow the prosecution of crimes "motivated by prejudice" against certain protected characteristics, including "sexual orientation" and "gender identity." The Senate version (The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act) was introduced on April 28, 2009 and will likely be submitted for a vote soon.
These two bills, if signed into law, would do little to deter violent crimes; their practical effect would be to provide tools for those seeking to silence opposing views—particularly religious views regarding homosexual behavior. Pastors in countries that have passed similar “hate crime” legislation have already been prosecuted for biblically based teaching against homosexual behavior, and the bill now before the Senate could open the door to such prosecutions in our nation.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees citizens protection from laws that would abridge the freedom of speech or prohibit the free exercise of religion. Senate Bill 909 is just such a law. To help protect our constitutional liberties, join the many other voices condemning this unconstitutional bill by contacting your senators and urging them first to insist that the Judiciary Committee hold full hearings, and second, to oppose S. 909 if it is brought before the Senate for a vote.
To find your senators’ contact information, visit www.senate.gov, choose your state from the list in the upper right corner and click “Go.” You will be redirected to a list of your two senators. Simply click on your senators' names and you will be routed to their individual websites where you can find contact information.
Don’t forget—call your senators today and express your disapproval of S. 909, the “hate crimes” bill! And be sure to forward this message to family and friends. When we speak as one, our voices will be heard!
For further information on S. 909, click here.
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