Senators Edward Kennedy And Gordon Smith CoSponsor Bill Opposing Hate Crimes Against The Gay Community

A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy(D-MA) and Gordon Smith(R-OR) seeks to set criminal penalties for the extreme violence against the Gay community by some. The bill, which is called the Matthew Shepard bill by some, cracks down on the extreme violence sometimes associated with hate crimes. Whether the bill can pass the Senate or will be signed into law by the White House are matters that remain to be seen. But if the bill is seen as a tough on crime bill that cracks down on illegal violence, then the chances are very good.

The bill is named after a young college student who was lured by a group of thugs to a violent death involving extreme violence.