Gun Used In 2012 Shooting At FRC Office Goes On Display At Crime Museum

The gun used in the 2012 shooting at the Family Research Council's headquarters has gone on display at Washington DC's Crime Museum. Via World Net Daily:

The yellowed “eyes” of the Volkswagen Beetle that serial killer Ted Bundy used to kidnap his victims still watch over a grisly display of crime artifacts: Unabomber letters. The noose from a Ku Klux Klan lynching. Rubble from 9/11. And now, the gun used by homosexual activist Floyd Lee Corkins in his attack on the Family Research Council has joined the collection of the Crime Museum in Washington, D.C., as part of the exhibit “Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes,” which opened to the public on March 18.

Corkins admitted he picked FRC, which promotes traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs about family and sexuality, because the organization was listed as an “anti-gay” hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center on its website. Retired Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin, FRC executive vice president and a member of the board of WND.com, told WND the exhibit’s inclusion of the FRC attack makes sense in a domestic terror and hate crime display.

Boykin told WND he wants the U.S. government and its agencies to stop working with SPLC and citing its work, but said his group has never appealed to the SPLC to take them off its hate map because they don’t think it is legitimate. The general called the map capricious and noted it has no definition of a hate group: “More importantly, we think what they’re doing is absolutely reckless, particularly given they put us in the same category as groups like the Klu Klux Klan and the skinheads.” Pressure has to be put on the SPLC to stop this, because, Boykin said, “It is reckless behavior that has, at least in this case, incited someone to want to kill people who don’t believe what they believe and stand for.”

Also on display in the exhibit is a copy of the Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Hate Crimes Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in 2009, Judy Shepard's book about her son, and the #98 Brooklyn Nets jersey worn by Jason Collins in Shepard's memory. Those items, of course, are not mentioned in the above-linked World Net Daily article.

President Obama Marks Fifth Anniversary Of Signing The Matthew Shepard Act

Via White House press release:

Five years ago, I was proud to sign the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act into law – a law that strengthened the protections against crimes based on the color of our skin, the love in our hearts, the faith we practice, or the place of our birth.

This law gave the Justice Department new tools for prosecuting criminals. It directed new resources to law enforcement agencies, so they could better serve their communities. And it did what we want all our laws to do: it reflected and strengthened our core national values. By recognizing violent bigotry as an especially dangerous crime – one that not only harms individuals, but threatens the social fabric that binds our country together – the Shepard Byrd Hate Crimes Act has made it possible for more Americans to live freely, openly and safely, and has reinforced our nation’s sacred commitment to equality for all.

Since this law was passed, the FBI and Department of Justice have vigorously investigated and prosecuted dozens of hate crime cases nationwide, including attacks on minorities, gays and lesbians, and people with disabilities. The number of individuals charged with hate crimes has increased significantly over the past five years. And state and local law enforcement officers and other community members have received training in how to recognize and address hate crimes. The law is working.

Our job isn’t done. We must continue to stand together against intolerance and hate wherever they occur, and respond decisively when they lead to violence. Ours is a country built on the notion that all people are created equal. It’s up to us to make that ideal real, in our words and deeds as well as in our laws – to ensure that, in America, everyone is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve, no matter who they are or who they love.

HomoQuotable - George Takei

"Matthew [Shepard's] death brought about calls for stricter hate crime legislation. Under Wyoming and Federal law at the time, LGBT persons were not included within existing hate crime definitions. The battle to bring about this change was not easy. It took nearly 20 years of lobbying, votes, threats of vetoes, and partisan bickering before a Federal law included LGBT persons within the definition. On October 28, 2009, President Obama finally signed the Matthew Shepard Act into law.

"I came out publicly in 2005, though I had been out privately for many decades with friends and family. My decision stemmed from a desire to stand up and be counted, so that I could help people see the human side of how bigotry, hatred and intolerance affects others. Coming out is never easy, and often never ending. If you have gay, lesbian or bisexual friends who have come out to you, take the time to thank them today for their courage, and for helping to make a difference in the lives of others, especially of young people like Matthew Shepard who bear so much of the burden of homophobia, bullying and violence against LGBT people. Thank you. And Matthew, I promise you, we will remember." - George Takei, writing in observance of today's 14th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard.

Appeals Court Upholds Hate Crimes Act, It Does Not Restrict Religious Bigotry

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against three Michigan pastors who claimed that the federal Hate Crimes Act restricted their freedom to be bigoted douchebags. Ryan J. Reilly reports at Talking Points Memo:

Opponents of the law argued the legislation outlawed “thought crimes” and was meant to “eradicate religious beliefs opposing the homosexual agenda.” The suit was first filed in February 2010 by the conservative Thomas More Law Center, a few months after President Barack Obama signed the law in October 2009. It cited Bible passages and George Orwell’s Animal Farm, claiming the law treated certain individuals “more equal than others.”

But the appeals court found that the plaintiffs had “not alleged any actual intent” to cause bodily injury to any gay individuals, pointing out that the pastors explicitly denounced “crimes of violence perpetrated against innocent individuals.” The Hate Crimes Act, the appeals court ruled, “does not prohibit Plaintiffs’ proposed course of speech” and said they “can’t quite pinpoint what it is they want to say that could subject them to prosecution under the Hate Crimes Act.”

Even if they quoted Leviticus 20:13, which called for men who have sex with one another to be put to death, “they have not alleged any intention to do more than merely quote it,” which wouldn’t be unlawful under the Hate Crimes Act, the appeals court ruled.

Ah, satisfying. (Tipped by JMG reader Andi)

Ministers Sue Feds: Hate Crime Laws Oppress Our Religious Liberties

The Sixth Court of Appeals in Cincinnati is hearing the case of two Michigan ministers who say that hate crime laws oppress their freedom of speech and are unconstitutional. Joining the suit is Gary Glenn (left), the head of the American Family Association's Michigan chapter.

The suit, of course, is exploding with batshittery as hate crime laws only apply to actions, not speech. Despite that inconvenient fact, the ministers claim that they fear that their anti-gay sermons will bring their arrests. A lower court rightfully shitcanned the suit last year.

HomoConQuotable - Christopher Barron

"Despite our name, GOProud is not a partisan organization; we do not hold ourselves out as an auxiliary of the Republican Party. We are not an organization seeking to 'change' the Republican Party into the party of Dede Scozzafava or Chris Shays. We are conservatives, committed to the conservative movement. We believe strongly that what matters are principles not partisanship.

"Our agenda is unlike the agenda of any other gay organization. Instead of fighting to expand the federal government through hate crimes laws or federal employment non-discrimination legislation, legislation that only impacts a sliver of gay people, we instead focus on issues like taxes, healthcare, retirement security, and the economy — we offer gay Americans pragmatic, common-sense conservative approaches to these issues that will improve their lives, as well as the lives of all Americans.

"We believe strongly that the federal government doesn’t have all the answers to the challenges facing gay and lesbian families. Indeed, we believe that often the federal government is the problem — not the solution." - GOProud head Christopher Barron, restating his group's opposition to LGBT rights in an essay for the right-wing Daily Caller.

UPDATE: Barron responds to this post via Twitter.

Christianists File Suit Against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Over Hate Crimes Act

According to World Net Daily, a group of Christian pastors and head of the Michigan chapter of the American Family Association have filed suit against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, claiming that the recently passed hate crimes act violates their civil right to be hate-filled anti-gay bigots. Which, of course, it doesn't.

The complaint states Christians now can become the target of federal investigations, grand juries and even charges for no more than opposing the activism of homosexuals who want not only public endorsement of their life choices, but to halt any criticism of those decisions. "On account of … the Hate Crimes Act, plaintiffs are targets for government scrutiny, questioning, investigation, surveillance, and other adverse law enforcement actions and thus seek judicial reassurance that they can freely participate in their speech and related religious activities without being investigated or prosecuted by the government or becoming part of official records because of their Christian beliefs," the lawsuit explains.

It was filed today by the Thomas More Law Center in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on behalf of Pastors Levon Yuille, Rene Ouellette, James Combs and Gary Glenn, the president of the American Family Association of Michigan. The plaintiffs include individuals who already have faced accusations by homosexual advocates that they bear responsibility for the actions of others for no other reason than their agreement with biblical condemnations of homosexuality.

The above-linked article goes on to call the hate crimes bill the "Pedophile Protection Act," the familiar and outrageous lie by Christianists that the bill protects pedophiles from prosecution.

Oklahoma Legislator Wants Exemption To Hate Crimes Law In Order To End State's Raging Corpse-Fucking Epidemic

Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell (R) plans to submit a bill that would authorize the state to opt out of the recently passed Matthew Shepard Act. Because it discriminates against the right to hate queers and would hinder the prosecution of corpse fuckers. SRSLY.

“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 said. “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. “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 he is also concerned if someone is attacked and killed for his or her sexual orientation, the suspect could pass the blame onto a religious leader who preached out against the lifestyle of the victim who was attacked.

What IS it about Christianists and corpse fucking? Russell plans to cite the Tenth Amendment in his bill, saying that the Tenth specifically restricts the federal government from imposing laws not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. The Tenth Amendment has repeatedly been cited across Greater Wingistan as a way for states to avoid adhering to various federal programs, including heath care reform.

Liars Tell More Lying Lies

The Christian Broadcast Network devoted the first few minutes of yesterday's broadcast to the Power Rangers For Jeebus and their rally against hate crimes laws at the Department of Justice. Event organizer Gary Cass looks into the camera of a nationally broadcast show and flatly lies that reading the Bible is now outlawed in Canada. No shame, no shame at all for these lying liars.

Christian Right Holds Massively Ignored Hate Rally At Department Of Justice

Today's fearsome and Godly demonstration of "civil disobedience" held outside the Department of Justice by the Power Rangers For Jeebus was nothing but a same-old same-old boring little press conference attended by nobody else but its speakers and a handful of placard-holding gays. Wait, can there be a "press conference" if there's no actual press? Fizzzzzle. Where were the promised acts of disobedience? Where was the incitement to arrest? Snooooooze. In the two clips below, the camera wisely remains focused on the podium so that you can't tell that the speakers are facing crowds estimated by the National Park Service to be in the mid single-digits. We'll have to wait for the aerial photos for the actual numbers! Snork!

First up in the clips below, the lies come so fast and furious from the ridiculously lesbian-like Janet Porter, you can't even keep up with them. Let's just go to the biggest, that here is no hate crimes law protecting Christians. YES, there is, you dumbfuck bigot. That law has existed for forty years and you know it. The rest are the usual Lies For Christ™: the Pedophile Protection Act, preachers waterboarded at Gitmo just because, and a recounting of that time that guy from some country did that thing which totally got him a stern talking to AND OMG THAT'S WHY GAYS ARE NAZIS!!1!! Quod erat demonstrandum, homos!

Today: "Rally For Religious Freedom"

Pretty much every Christianist loon you've ever heard of will be outside the Department of Justice in Washington DC at 1:30pm today to protest the recently passed hate crimes act. Wild-eyed luminaries such as Matt Barber, Peter LaBarbera, Gary Cass, Bishop Harry Jackson and their coterie of crazies will be attempting to incite their own arrest by "preaching the Biblical truth about homosexuality."

The Rally for Religious Freedom is meant to raise alarm over the nation's new Federal "hate crimes" law just passed by Congress and signed last month by President Obama. The intention of the rally is to assert the freedom of speech of ministers and Christians in general to declare biblical truth in the public square. The Rally will also expose the unconstitutional nature of the hate law. Ministers from various denominations will preach from the Bible, especially those parts that speak to the sin of homosexuality. This will serve to reassure ministers and Christians that they are free to do the same. A letter from Matt Staver of Liberty Council will be presented to Attorney General Eric Holder that expresses our concerns about the many unconstitutional aspects of the hate crime bill. Specific legal challenges also may be announced then.

Just like Matt Barber and Peter LaBarbara have claimed that commenters here on JMG have made terrorist threats, Christian Anti-Defamation Commission head Gary Cass is now claiming to have gotten an email about today's event which says, "I'll be in Washington on the 16th and I know what you look like." Cass' press release goes on to retread Barber's unfounded accusations about this blog, which Barber repeated again this weekend, this time for the widely-read Townhall.com, home to fellow columnists Michelle Malkin and Rush Limbaugh, among other nutters. This time, in a column titled 'Gay' Jihad, Barber whines that the mainstream press has refused to pick up the story.

Those who either threaten or attempt to incite terrorism must be immediately brought to justice. Churches and Christian leaders around the country need to be on high alert. These threats of homosexual activist terrorism must be taken very seriously. Of course, just as most mainstream media have sheepishly caved to the dictates of political correctness in refusing to call Muslim terrorist, Nidal Malik Hasan, a “Muslim terrorist” – they too have blacked-out the story surrounding these homosexualist threats of terror. It doesn’t fit the PC narrative, you see. Islam is really a “peaceful religion,” right? And homosexual activists? Well, they’re the victims, not the victimizers. They’re the targets of “hate crimes” not the architects. It seems the mainstream media are likewise bent on strapping a suicide bomb to any last remnant of journalistic credibility.

Here's the list of grandstanding nutjobs pretending that they risk being arrested today.

The official list of speakers and participating organizations now includes: Pierre Bynum of Family Research Council, Rick Scarborough of Vision America, Gary Cass of the Christian Anti Defamation Commission, Bishop Earl Jackson of STAND America, Paul Blair of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, Steve Kern of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, Dan Fisher of Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ, Mat Staver of Liberty Council, Matt Barber of Liberty Council, Paul Diamond of Christian Legal Centre in London, Jim Garlow of Protect Marriage CA, Janet Porter of Faith2Action, J. Grace Harley of Jesus is the Answer Ministry, Pat Mahoney of Christian Defense Coalition, Richard Land &/or Barrett Duke of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Gordon Klingenshmitt of Pray in Jesus Name, and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth.

A sample comment from Barber's Townhall piece:

Don't push this too far, gay men. There's a reason why gay men were brutally repressed in every society until the Western Societies of the past 20 years -- the potential forces of violence arrayed against you are infinitely greater than anything you can muster. Everything you enjoy now is "dependent on the kindness of strangers" Stay tolerant to get tolerance. You may have pushed things as far as they can go. If so, live with it. If you break down religion you may also break down the institutions that restrain violence being visited on you.

My goodness, that's at least as "terroristic" as JMG reader Fritz's now famous worry. Call the FBI!

RELATED: Among Townhall's commenters on Barber's post is notorious Rev. Steve Anderson (as Anderson659), who famously has some real problems with the FBI after announcing that he was praying for the death of President Obama.

Christian Clergy To Attempt To Incite Hate Crimes To Prove Religious Discrimination

World Net Daily reports that a group of Christian clergymen lead by Christian Anti-Defamation Commission head Gary Cass are planning a November 16th demonstration at the U.S. Capitol during which they intend to use inciting language in the hopes of being arrested for hate crimes, thereby proving the anti-Christian bias of the just-passed Matthew Shepard Act.

"We're basically going to defy the law, and challenge it," Cass told WND. "We're going to declare the whole counsel of God, including those parts that some may consider 'inciting a hate crime' to see if the attorney general is going to come down and arrest a group of peaceful clergy exercising their First Amendment rights." The law, long sought by homosexual activists who claim they are targeted by so-called "hate crimes," was signed last week by Obama, who then followed with a White House celebration of the event. Cass said the practical application of such laws already has been seen in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, where just in recent days the Christian Institute highlighted reports of a senior citizen being accused of "hate crimes" for writing a letter objecting to a pro-homosexual festival.

Cass is completely full of knowing lies and outright bullshit, as always. There will be no arrests at his grandstanding event. Maybe one, if the Wig Police happen to see him.

GLAAD On Hate Crimes Act Passage

GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios talks about the passage of the hate crimes act and what may be coming next from the Obama administration.

Pat Robertson Lies About Hate Crimes Act

Pat Robertson flat out lies to his audience on The 700 Club. Again. Via Crooks & Liars:

His basis for opposing the law, however, is completely detached from reality. For instance, Robertson argues:

Robertson: You know, there’s a law – what about a law that says it’s a federal crime to attack somebody because of his religious beliefs? Not a chance!

Robertson seems completely unaware that in fact religious bias is one of the categories of bias crime covered by hate-crime laws -- and it has been from the very start, since these laws were first enacted on the state level in the early 1980s!

Hint to Pat: Religion was covered as a bias category from the start because Jews have long been some of the most common victims of bias crimes. For instance, in the FBI's hate-crime statistics for 2007, some 1,400 of the nation's 7,600 or so reported bias crimes were of the "anti-religion" category; of those, some 118 were varieties of anti-Christian bias.

Indeed, he needs only read the text of the the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act to see that religion is one of the categories of bias it covers:

“(1) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.—Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person—

It's not even surprising anymore, is it?

Obama Signs Hate Crimes Act

A significant and historic step in our journey was achieved today when President Obama signed the hate crimes act. The wingnuts are screaming their heads off, but the day is ours. At last.

PhoboQuotable - Gary L. Cass

"In other nations, like Canada, where hate crime laws have been enacted, it is Christians, specifically conservative Christians who hold to the historic Christian faith and it's values, that become the object of institutionalized, governmental hate. "Christians who dare to tell the truth about the social, moral, spiritual and health consequences of illicit homosexual acts are accused of hate speech and intimidated into silence with threats of fines or jail."

"The fact the hate bill had to be passed in such an unscrupulous and cynical manner (attaching it to the Defense Authorization Act) reveals the depth of President Obama's commitment to a radical, anti-Christian agenda. He will stop at nothing to undermine the will of the majority of Americans to pay back militant homosexual activists who raised millions of dollars for his campaign and worked to get him elected. To sign the bill in the Rose Garden is another slap in the face and shows the level of contempt President Obama has for the majority of Americans who oppose the "homosexualization" of marriage and public education."

"The Christian Anti-Defamation Commission will soon be announcing its plans, along with other leading pro-family groups, to defy, counter and challenge this unconstitutional attack on our religious liberty." - Dr. Gary Cass, announcing plans to challenge the Matthew Shepard Act.

Tomorrow: President Obama To Sign Hate Crimes Bill

On Wednesday, President Obama will sign the hate crimes bill into law in a White House ceremony as Matthew Shepard's family looks on. I should have a link to the live stream of the event available here early in the day.

Wingnuts Freaking Over Hate Crimes Act

Under the predictable headline Pedophile Protection Act Passes, Christianist news site WorldNetDaily is continuing to lie about the hate crimes act.

Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, told WND the move is alarming because "this would be the very first governmental and societal disapproval of a sincerely held religious belief, held by a majority of Americans, namely that homosexual behavior is immoral. "It's the first time the federal government is writing into law a disapproval of that belief," he said. While he said he doesn't believe there will be "immediate" prosecutions of pastors and churches for teaching the biblical injunction that homosexual behavior is sin, "I think the effect on speech and religious speech is nonetheless real." He said he does expect that pastors soon will begin being called to testify in "hate crime" cases in court "as to what that pastor preaches, what the church teaches, what the Bible teaches." "When this happens, there will be a shock wave through pastorates in America," he said. Ultimately, he warned that the homosexual advocates who have pushed the "hate crimes" plan consider this law just the first step "toward silencing Christians."

Commenters on Free Republic see more fuel for the coming second Civil War.

"This is an attempt to silence Christianity. They have no idea what a hornets nest they’ve opened up. I can’t wait until the first pink tutu wearing gay opens fire on a Pastor’s sermon. It WILL go to court and the 1st amendment WILL be used in defense. Going to come down one of 2 ways 1) the 1st amendment will be upheld and this ‘law’ will be declared unconstitutional or 2) the 1st amendment will become toilet paper and then CWII opens up as something a mite hotter than rhetoric in forums and chatrooms."

Matthew Shepard Act PASSES, On Way To President's Desk

After years and years and years of work, tonight the Matthew Shepard Act passed its final congressional hurdle and at long last is on its way to President Obama's desk for final approval.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation rejoices:

Today, the United States Senate took an historic step toward ensuring justice for the victims of hate crimes targeted for violence due to their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.

“Dennis and I are extremely proud of the Senate for once again passing this historic measure of protection for victims of these brutal crimes,” said Judy Shepard, president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board. “Knowing that the president will sign it, unlike his predecessor, has made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile. Hate crimes continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live their lives honestly, and they need to know that their government will protect them from violence, and provide appropriate justice for victims and their families.”

By voting overwhelmingly to extend to these often-targeted Americans our nation’s decades-old bias crime legislation, senators sent the message that hate crimes will not go unpunished, and local governments and law enforcement agencies will not run out of financial resources to provide justice to these victims and their loved ones.

A wonderful day for LGBT people and a historic day for America! Onward to DADT, DOMA, and ENDA.

Senate: Hate Crimes Act Achieves Cloture

Breaking news from HRC Backstory:

The U.S. Senate today achieved cloture (the procedural step to limit debate and proceed toward a vote) on the Department of Defense Authorization Conference Report of which the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a part by a vote of 64 to 35. The Senate will now proceed with debate on the Conference Report followed by a vote on final passage.

Almost there....