OKLAHOMA CITY — A controversial hate crimes bill will be considered this spring in the Oklahoma legislature.
State Sen. Steve Russell filed a bill that would limit what the state of Oklahoma would do when it came to investigating hate crimes while also protecting religious speech, Russell's secretary told The Daily Tuesday.
She said Russell filed the bill before the filing deadline last week, but did not release a press release announcing his filing of the legislation.
“The federal government should not be creating a special class of people, and that is just what they did when they passed and signed this bill,” Russell told The Daily in November. “All crimes against another person have some level of hate in them, and people can be assured that our laws that protect people against crimes such as murder are sufficient to protect everyone.”
Russell said because the government has decided to intervene on issues of morality, he is worried that religious leaders who speak out against any lifestyle could be imprisoned for their speech.
Russell came under fire for his proposed legislation and comments that compared gays and lesbians to necrophiliacs.
“The law is very vague to begin with,” Russell said. “Sexual orientation is a very vague word that could be extended to extremes like necrophilia.”
Russell said the expansion of the definition of hate crimes passed by Congress and signed by the president last year is unconstitutional.
“The bill gives the federal government power that was not given to them in the Constitution,” Russell said. “I am aware of the supremacy of the federal government over state governments, but the federal requirements are vague enough for us to make actions. We just have to be very careful on how we proceed.”
When asked about whether the state of Oklahoma should reject the $5 million in federal funds that the federal government would give to law enforcement agencies to help prosecute hate crimes, Russell said he thought about finding a way to pass his law while taking the money, but said it would be a compromise in the values of his bill.
“I understand the state could use all the money it can get, but we can’t compromise our values for some quick cash,” Russell said.
Portions of this story were taken from a Nov. 17 article by Ricky Maranon.
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RevBillJohnson 2 years, 4 months ago
Sen. Steve Russell is on the losing side of a social battle not going his way. What does he really hope to gain? In few years his efforts will be as odd to our ears as the arguments against women's suffrage, racial equality and and even emancipation.
jssooner4 2 years, 4 months ago
The longer I have lived in this state, the more I want to leave, and it is because of absolutely ridiculous laws like this one. How can people live with a state government like this. As soon as I graduate I'm buying a one way ticket to any other state. Good luck to all those who choose to stay.
mairacrach 2 years, 4 months ago
Of course the Matthew Shepard case was a hate crime... He was killed by intolerant and ignorant people. However, this does not negate the fact that all crimes are hate crimes essentially. If a man kills his wife for being unfaithful, it would obviously be out of hate. But he would be convicted of murder... not a hate crime. The motivation behind the crime should have little to do with the punishment of the offense. For example: If a bully in middle school harassed another child in school for being a "nerd" or "freak", the bully's punishment would not be too harsh... maybe a few days in detention. But if the harassed kid had been openly homosexual, then that would be a hate crime, which the bully most likely would suffer harsher consequences. The actions by the bully are wrong in any perspective... and no more hateful just because of the other child's sexual orientation.
texman333 2 years, 4 months ago
I just love it when closted homosexuals do stupid things like this. Heads up to the local police.. start patrolling the road side parks and public restrooms and you will eventually pick up Steve Russel crusing for sex with men.
sctyson 2 years, 4 months ago
Just looked at his website. 5th generation Oklahoman means his family was there since it was a state? Mine was there 25 years before... so what??
I no longer live in Oklahoma so I'm not sure of the election cycle. Can someone post when he is up for re-election so I can send money to his opponent?
The government creates "protected classes" when regular laws don't seem to be enough, much like the addition of religion was added.
Surely Oklahoma has other pressing issues in their limited legislative session to help promote job growth, limit taxes, etc, rather than trying to pass a law that will ultimately be vetoed and/or declared unconstitutional and cost the hard-working taxpayers of Oklahoma unnecessary expenses!
momof3girlz09 2 years, 4 months ago
I am a proud Oklahoma citizen and am glad that someone is bold enough tho speak out publicly against a bill that will eventually be the ruin of religious freedoms! We are protected by the Constitution which states that, "ALL men are created equal", and should be treated as such! Not one "class" of person over another but on the same level playing field so to speak. Not to mention that if you truly read the original bill that was passed last year you will see the classification, "sexual preference or orientation", and so that includes many people including pedophiles, people engaged in incest, child molestation, and bestiality to name a few. Therefore I wholeheartedly agree with Sen. Russell and will support him any way I can!
Tina 2 years, 4 months ago
"...speak out publicly against a bill that will eventually be the ruin of religious freedoms...includes many people including pedophiles, people engaged in incest, child molestation, and bestiality to name a few" you're kidding right? seriously...?
http://www.bilerico.com/2009/10/obama_signs_matthew_shepardjames_byrd_hate_crimes.php
"When Dennis and I started calling 10 years ago for federal action to prevent and properly prosecute hate crimes against gay, lesbian and transgendered Americans, we never imagined it would take this long," said Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother and the president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board of Directors.
Shepard suffered fractures to the back of his head and in front of his right ear. He had severe brain stem damage, which affected his body's ability to regulate heart rate, body temperature and other vital functions. There were also about a dozen small lacerations around his head, face and neck. His injuries were deemed too severe for doctors to operate. Shepard never regained consciousness and remained on full life support. He was pronounced dead at 12:53 A.M. on October 12, 1998. This was a hate crime.
sduskin 2 years, 4 months ago
If a non-homosexual attacks an individual (who just happens to be homosexual, transgender, etc.) then it is a crime against a person. If that same non-homosexual SYSTEMATICALLY attacks a GROUP whose members are homosexual, transgender, etc. THEN it is a crime against those individuals AND SHOULD be prosecuted as hate crime against that group in addition to being prosecuted for crimes against each individual attacked.
jsnyder 2 years, 3 months ago
Since when did speech have anything to do with this? When was calling someone a 'freak' a crime? It never has been, and this doesn't make it one.
This is about VIOLENCE against a class of people (any class) because they are different. When the society is sufficiently ignorant and bigoted, the progressive and compassionate have to work to protect the minorities who are being abused. We don't need a slingshot effect (resulting in "reverse hate crimes"? hahahaha) but something needs to be done. I am a transgender woman and lived in Oklahoma for many years, and it was a horrid experience. It's people like Russell, who seem to present valid and logical arguments that are actually justifications of a bigoted worldview, who perpetuate such a horrible environment for anyone not White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.
Yep, let's worry more about protecting the rights of ass-mouthed preachers while we ignore violence directed at groups of nonviolent and inoffensive people.
brufanegra 2 years, 3 months ago
For those of you who might forget, heterosexuality is also a sexual orientation which means that this law protects you too. Same with crimes based on gender, race, color (white is a color too), religion, disability, and national origin. So it seems to me that the only time the hate crime bill was special was when it protected everyone EXCEPT the LGBT community. EQUALITY IS NOT SPECIAL PEOPLE!!!
DavidMcfatridge 2 years, 3 months ago
Stop Oklahoma from Repealing the Matthew Shepard Act! join Face Book group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=263916452266&ref=nf
and/or sign the petition: http://www.change.org/actions/view/stop_oklahoma_from_repealing_the_matthew_shepard_act
radioguy 2 years, 3 months ago
I am a proud Oklahoma citizen and am glad that someone is bold enough tho speak out publicly against a bill that will eventually be the ruin of religious freedoms!
i read this post and had to laugh. i understand that most people don't understand what it is like to be gay, bi, trans...whatever. each person needs to walk a mile in the other shoes. now as for this bill killing religious freedom...when did religious freedom and hate crimes go hand in hand in this bill. i get so tired of everyone hiding behind religion. yes the declaration of independence states that all MEN are created equal. our founding fathers had to wrestle with that one. the reason, slaves. so over time people who wanted equality used "all MEN are created equal. soon, president lincoln used...well you know history. so i guess next was the same rights for women. after all, all "MEN" are created equal. well we know the history on that too. so on and so on. it doesn't really help your cause to use the phrase. on a side note, our founding fathers used it to get the point across that all "MEN" have certain rights...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
so if the government makes a law that protects all men, well now all Americans...i think we should stick to it. this is how the founding fathers made the system. i think you need to read the bill of rights and the constitution and refresh yourself. there is even some good things about religion in there too.
now i am gay and proud. i'm not a sexist man. i know who the father, son, and the spirit are. i have read the bible, i even attend church..not a regular, but i do go and for the life of me can understand what is wrong with this country. after all, you know, all us homos just want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. is that too much to ask? and before you answer that question remember, religion has NOTHING to do with making laws in this country.