To All Concerned US Citizens:
This week there is a very important measure that our Nation’s Senate is debating that could have an impact on the Free Speech of the American People. Some of our Senators are trying to sneak a Hate Crime Measure through by hiding it in a Bill (H.R. 2647 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c111:5:./temp/~c111fwOPIy::)
In this Military Defense Bill, they have hidden what is referred to as the “Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act”. While this is made to sound like a good thing, who wouldn’t want to protect people from Hate Crimes, they are wanting to use this as an attempt to enable Government to sensor our Speech. For example a Pastor that would preach against Homosexuality could be “Perceived” (which is a key word in the measure) as HATE SPEECH, which would be deemed a HATE CRIME and could result in incarceration.
There are several Senators that are taking a stand and opposing this bill. They are unwilling to be swayed simply because of other’s attempt to hide this measure from the American Public and to deceive the public into believing that any Senator who would vote against this bill would be voting against the American Military when in reality they would be voting to protect our Civil Liberties.
If you are in one of the following States (Nebraska, Arkansas, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Louisiana) Please contact your Senators to let them hear the Voice of the American People. You are in a State where you can use your influence and the influence of those you know to determine the outcome of this bill. The reason you are so important is that your states have senators that can still be persuaded. Some Senators (Like Oklahoma Senators Tom Coburn & Jim Inholfe) have already vowed to vote against the Bill, Your senators have not yet decided which way they will Vote. This is an urgent concern that needs immediate action, as our Nation’s Senators are debating this bill this very week. You have the ability to make a difference. At the bottom of this letter will be links for each Senator of the above listed States. We need to protect our Freedom of Speech. If we, the people, will not speak up, you can be sure that our will and our beliefs will not be heard.
I am encouraging you to take action, speak up, email, call, write, and do what you can to protect, yours and the millions of other American Citizens, Freedom of Speech.
Seth Swindall
Nebraska:
Ben Nelson
Mike Johanns
http://johanns.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
Arkansas:
Blanche Lincoln
Mark Pryor
Montana:
Max Baucus
Jon Tester
Nevada:
Harry Reid
John Ensign
http://ensign.senate.gov/public/
Colorado:
Micheal Bennet
Mark Udall
Louisiana:
Mary Landrieu
http://landrieu.senate.gov/2009/index.cfm
David Vitter
