CFMC believes that all crimes committed against our follow man are "Hate Crimes". Legislation that calls for a special class of crime or for special protection for homosexual behavior is openly discriminatory. To make the consequences greater or lesser simply because it was directed against one individual or group rather than another is absurd.

To create a special class of punishment based on ones "sexual orientation" and "gender" (defined to include transgender, cross dressing, rest room rights, etc.) would not only be a dangerous prescient, but also un-constitutional. We all deserve equal protection under the law, including equal punishment for criminals as well! To create special protections for such behavior would only lead to a Pandora's Box of legal and ethical dilemmas.

We must ask ourselves this simple question: Would you want the person who murders a member of your family to get a lighter sentence than someone who murders a homosexual (God forbid), of course not. The person who commits a crime against your family member should get the same sentence as the person who commits the same crime against a homosexual (or anyone else for that matter), regardless of motive. But that would be the result of "Hate Crime" legislation based on "sexual orientation". Crime is crime. We all deserve "Equal Protection Under the Law" !!!

CFMC believes that if a person commits an assault on your wife, husband or child that person is deserving of the same punishment regardless of motive. We do not need "Mind Police" to determine who will be charged with a lesser crime and who will not. Purely political agendas rather than sound principles are motivating those who are calling for this special class of crime.

Epidemic or Agenda driven?

Now lets ask ourselves another question: Is "Hate Crime" legislation needed? According to the "1997 Hate/Bias Report" issued by the Maryland State Police, Criminal Intelligence Division, (who is charged with tracking hate crimes in Maryland) reported only 37 "incidents" involving "sexual orientation" were identified in 1997. Out of that only two (2) arrest, zero (0) in 1996, and zero (0) in 1995. In other words in the last three (3) years there has been only 2 arrest for "sexual orientation" bias base crime.

In the "Conclusion" of the Maryland State Police report it states for 1997, "The findings suggest a downward trend in the number of reported incidents from 1995 (18%) and 1996 (24.7%). In addition it reports that "Adults are found to be targets of hate bias more often than juveniles" and "hate/bias incidents for both juvenile and adult offenders have decreased" directly contradicting what same sex apologist tell us about "gay youth at risk."

"HATE CRIME" deems some victims more important than others.

• While the nation focused on the murder of homosexual student Matthew Shepard, few heard about the brutal rape and murder, also in Wyoming, of eight-year-old Christin Lamb just days before. Russell Henderson, convicted of killing Matthew Shepard, received two consecutive life sentences, versus one life sentence for Christin’s murderer. Under the Hate Crimes Protection Act (HCPA), an eight-year-old girl has less protection under the law than a homosexual college student. HCPA violates the 14^th Amendment: By granting special consideration to victims of "politically incorrect" crimes, the legislation denies equal protection under the law.

According to FBI data (Crime in the United States, 1997, and Hate Crime Statistics, 1997), "hate crimes" account for only a tiny fraction of total crimes:

• Of every 20,000 murders, 9 are "hate crimes" (0.044 percent).

• Of every 20,000 rapes, 2 are "hate crimes" (0.009 percent).

• Of every 20,000 robberies, 6 are "hate crimes" (0.029 percent).

• Of every 20,000 aggravated assaults, 24 are "hate crimes" (0.121 percent).

Hate Crime statistics include "Intimidation", the use of threatening words or conduct, such as angry shouting and fist-waving. The Hate Crimes Reporting Act of 1990 mandated that the FBI include "intimidation." Nearly half the "hate crimes" in the 1997 FBI statistics are in this category.

Respondents to a 1999 poll conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide revealed that a vast majority of Americans believe in "Equal Protection Under the Law and not Hate Crime legislation.

• Ninety-eight percent think the murders of a homosexual and a heterosexual are equally serious, and should both be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

• Ninety-two percent said criminals should be punished for their actions alone, not their beliefs, and that their victims should receive equal protection under the law.

Majority of violent crime against homosexuals is committed by other homosexuals, not by heterosexuals.

According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, the number of "gay-on-gay" domestic violence cases is 14 times greater than the number of violent "anti-gay" attacks.

We all deserve equal protection under the law, and that includes equal punishment for criminals as well! To create a special class of punishment based on race, sex or religion would not only be a dangerous prescient but also un-constitutional.

"Nothing should ever be implied as Law which leads to unjust or absurd consequences." Abraham Lincoln