Please Get Involved.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

how are ministers protected? why are so many opposed to this legislation?

I don't know why so many are opposed to this legislation.

Unless they had plans to go shoot all those folks at the gay bar next week and now their plans are foiled.

SEC. 7. SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, an amendment made by this Act, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, the amendments made by this Act, and the application of the provisions of such to any person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, shall be construed to prohibit any expressive conduct protected from legal prohibition by, or any activities protected by the Constitution.

Freedom of speech is still a Constitutional right and protected by the First Amendment. This legislation is just making it a hate crime to beat someone up or kill them or otherwise cause them physical harm cuz of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. This bill specifies *bodily* harm making it (if I understand it correctly at least..Baron..correct me?) impossible for anyone to use this legislation for any real or perceived *emotional or mental* harm.