MW: Midwest LGBT Equality, Hate Crimes and Suicide Prevention Act (Failed)

[LeBron]

1) Which law exactly?
2) Hate crime legislation would have of course no interest if homophobia didn't exist. But homophobia exists and I believe that the law shall be made in relation with reality. Homophobia is still a problem, and this "hate crime legislation" towards a more "gay-friendly" society. I would oppose this passage if homophobia didn't exist, but that's not the case!

Hate crime laws do very little to reduce racism or homophobia. Those things will continue to exist with or without those laws.

Of course homophobia will still exist, but at least you could recognize that passing  Hate Crime Laws will reduce violent attacks towards gays?

By a negligible amount, and the cost is that it continues to twist and contort our legal system and punishes people for thought crime and I don't think that's right. I want society to be friendly to people of all kinds, but hate crime laws are the wrong way to do it.

That thought is reality though. Look at Cleveland's Jared Fox who was attacked by a group of men outside a known gay bar by them and ended up injured while they shouted homophobic slurs at him. Common sense suggests that wasn't done just because they wanted his money and wanted to beat some random guy up, but they saw an easy target in this gay guy and hated him enough because of his sexuality that they decided to do what they did.

The problem is, there are several other cases of this and usually these perpetrators don't think before they act and should be persecuted based not only on the crime of robbery and physical brutality itself, but the fact of understanding that these crimes may have never happened if the circumstances had been different with the group of men standing in front of a straight bar with a straight guy walking in. We need to make sure the LGBT community feels protected by our public officials and furthermore that they feel justice and equality is holding up in the courts.

As for Brewer's amendment, I'm against the revised version since it would cross out a key part to the bill.

[LeBron]

Hold on, did Adam Fitzgerald even approve of the amendment to his bill?

No, I didn't because it abolishes a key part of the bill. Heck, it's 1/3rd of what the bill is! So I'm still undecided on what I'll vote on it for now, but I do agree with you there that Section 2, Sub-Section 3 is bit extreme. It's too late, but here's another amended version to it leaving the other 2 sub-sections in.

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[LeBron]

Real rules would allow us to carve out the details, issuing what authority Arturo has to block votes. and Slowing down the althings work may not be a bad thing: we can actually discuss legislation properly, allow some back and forth, and allow Adam Fitzgerald to oppose and hold a vote on the amendment to his bill.

This issue may have me returning to the Midwest Government pretty soon.

It's nothing really to worry about at all. If Arturo can cancel votes, then what's the problem? I'll take responsibility for not proposing an altered-altered version to Brewer's amendment sooner and I really think you're going after the wrong guy. 2 bills at a time works good to and it sets good order for the Althing.

Besides, OT but you just became Attorney General. You'll be painted as an opportunist if you run against Arturo.

[LeBron]

Aye!

[LeBron]

Nay

[LeBron]

There's a tie to break then!

[LeBron]

Aye