U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) issued the following statement after opposing the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (HR1913) approved today by the U.S. House of Representatives:

 

“All violent crime is wrong, founded in hate, devastating to victims and communities, and it should always be vigorously prosecuted. I firmly believe that all Americans are equal before the law regardless of race, gender or sexual preference, which is why I opposed this bill, which would make one person’s life more valuable than another person’s life. I also found it extremely troubling that this bill criminalizes thought and opens the door to criminal investigations of religion, philosophy and politics.”