House Proceeding 04-29-09 on Apr 29th, 2009 :: 1:02:35 to 1:04:40
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1:02:32 to 1:02:52( Edit History Discussion )

James Jordan: i urge my colleagues to support the local law enforcement hate crimes prevention act today and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his tim the gentleman from texas. mr. smith: mr. speaker, i yield two minutes to the gentleman from ohio, mr. jordan, who is a member of the judiciary committee and also a deputy ranking member of the administrative law subcommittee.

1:02:35 to 1:04:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: James Jordan

1:02:53 to 1:03:13( Edit History Discussion )

James Jordan: the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. jordan: i thank the gentleman for yielding. mr. speaker, i appreciate the opportunity to speak in opposition to h.r. 1913, which unfortunately is being debated under a closed rule today. this bill represents an unconstitutional, unprecedented departure from a deeply rooted american principle of justice under law.

1:03:14 to 1:03:34( Edit History Discussion )

James Jordan: justice should be blind. crimes that are not aimed at a certain class of people are just as reprehensible as those committed for other reasons. but this bill would treat senseless random violence less harshly than, quote, hate crimes. justice will depend on if they're worthy of protection under this bill.

1:03:35 to 1:03:56( Edit History Discussion )

James Jordan: a list for the record that does not include the unborn, pregnant women, the elderly and hers who are among society's most vulnerable. in fact, i offered an amendment during the committee markup to add the unborn to this list. it was saying that the unborn is not persons. so much for defending our most defenseless.

1:03:57 to 1:04:19( Edit History Discussion )

James Jordan: it raises the possibility that religious teachers of every faith could be prosecuted on what they say in the pulpit, what they preach, by permitting legal action against anyone who willfully causes an act to be done by another person. it is not hard to imagine charges being filed against a pastor if a prosecutor believes that the pastor's message caused someone to commit an act of violence.

1:04:20 to 1:04:41( Edit History Discussion )

James Jordan: subjecting pastor's sermons to prosecute scrutiny in this way would have a chilling effect on the rights of all individuals to freely practice their religion. this so-called hate crimes bill not only discards the equal justice, it leads the groundwork to criminalize individuals who might not share