Expert Warns Democrats' Hate Crimes Amendment May Help "Islamists" Bring "Sharia Law" to U.S. - Video 7/19/09

Here is an interview yesterday with Frank Gaffney on Fox News about the Hate Crimes Amendment Democrats have attached to a Defense Appropriations Bill. The measure would add "Sexual Orientation" and "Women" to protected status under Hate Crimes Law. Democrats say the amendment specifically protects free speech as long as the speech is not deemed to be inciting people to violence against those protected.

Gaffney,however, does not feel that is the main goal or outcome of the legislation. He said it would provide an avenue for "Islamists" in the United States to silence critics of future efforts to bring "Sharia Law" to parts of the United States, on the grounds that it is a "hate crime" to speak against it.

Reality is that if this "Hate Crimes" amendment becomes law, it will provide an open door for radicals to go after conservative Christians who simply express their beliefs about the lifestyle choice of homosexuality.

The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act -- an amendment to a "must-pass" Department of Defense bill -- is intended to protect people who are attacked because of their sexual orientation.

Section 7 of the act states that whoever "willfully causes bodily injury to any person or . . . attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of . . . religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person will be imprisoned . . . ." Bodily injury is defined by congress as physical or mental pain (see U.S. Code: Title 18, 1365(h)(4)).

Conservatives are concerned that the hate crime act will intimidate free speech and put Christian pastors in the line of legal fire. According to a report in the Baptist Press (BP): ". . . combined with existing law, [the bill] could expose to prosecution Christians and others who proclaim the Bible's teaching that homosexual behavior and other sexual relations outside marriage are sinful. For example, if a person commits a violent act based on a victim's 'sexual orientation' after hearing biblical teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior, the preacher or teacher could be open to a charge of inducing the person to commit the crime." . . . . MORE

Gaffney has added another reason why this amendment should not become law. It has the potential of being an avenue for radical Muslims to expand their base of operations in the United States while being protected from criticism and the scrutiny of those who would oppose the introduction of Sharia Law into the U.S. Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for attaching this to a Defense Appropriations Bill. It should be debated separately on its own merits. But it appears the Senate has already successfully added the amendment to he Appropriations Bill, and all that stands between it and becoming law is approval in the House.