It has passed the House by a party-line vote of 249-175. It is now in the Senate where it is expected to pass. President Obama supports it.

“It” is the Hate Crimes Bill which will add homosexuals to the list of federally protected minority groups. The bill will make it illegal to physically attack a member of this minority group. Those who do can be prosecuted by the federal government.

But wait a minute! Are not homosexuals, as citizens of the United States, already protected under federal law? Is it not already illegal to physically attack any one for any reason? Why does our Democratic leadership feel the need for a law to make illegal what is already illegal?

The fear of many conservatives is that the bill will do more than what it states on the surface, that it will not only allow federal prosecution of violent crimes against homosexuals, but it will also allow federal prosecution of those who teach that homosexuality is a sinful, unnatural relationship that is not endorsed by God. Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians would be the primary targets of such a law because a prosecuting attorney could argue that the teachings of Christianity against homosexuality contribute to a crime of violence against an individual.

On my website I present Biblical arguments supporting my view that homosexuality is contrary to God’s plan for human beings, and thus is a sin. I do not now nor have I ever advocated or encouraged violence against anyone. Violence is also a sin contrary to God’s plan for people. Christianity teaches that I am to love everybody and not to cause physical harm to anyone.

After this law is passed and signed by the President, what is to prevent someone from reading my arguments and then going out and physically attacking a homosexual? Charges would be brought against this over zealous individual, but since he claims he was encouraged to do what he did by reading my arguments, could charges also be brought against me? Would that not impede my free speech and religious rights as granted by the Constitution?

Supporters of the bill claim it is ridiculous to think this bill will limit anyone’s free speech or religious rights. It only refers to crimes where physical violence is done to a person. They argue the bill is needed to protect the homosexual community from physical harm done by those who oppose them.

But I see a problem. Having the law declare that anti-homosexual activity can be prosecuted separately from existing laws simply confirms a growing public attitude that those who oppose homosexuality on moral grounds are wrong. This attitude could lead to a reversal of roles where the protected become the aggressors and physically attack their opponents. Is the government then prepared to pass another law to protect the anti-homosexuality community from militant homosexuals?

This law is unnecessary because it already is illegal (not to mention immoral and unchristian) for me to go and physically attack any person. The law does not protect anyone; what it does do is create a potential for serious infringement of the Constitutional rights of people of faith. If it passes and is signed into law, I trust someone will bring suit against the government on the basis that the law is unconstitutional because it tramples on the free speech rights so basic to our American way of government.