JINDAL PLANS TO LESSEN PUNISHMENT FOR HATE CRIMES

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Julie Vezinot

Oct. 17, 2007 225-336-4155

JINDAL PLANS TO LESSEN PUNISHMENT FOR HATE CRIMES

Repeal of Hate Crime Statute on List of Changes if Elected Governor

BATON ROUGE – Bobby Jindal, who alleges he plans to reform the state’s crime and safety policies, will abolish Louisiana’s Hate Crime statute if elected governor.

In a survey completed by Jindal and conducted by Louisiana Family Forum Action[1], Jindal stated he would support repealing the “hate crimes” statute. The Louisiana Statute, RS 14:107.2, condemns crimes committed on victims based on race, age, gender, religion, color, disability or sexual orientation. The statute imposes stiffer penalties for the crimes committed upon any above mentioned victims.

Jindal has stumped repeatedly and states in his platform on Crime and Safety Reform, that those who break laws in Louisiana will be “caught, prosecuted and severely punished.” Apparently, that doesn’t apply if the victim is singled out because of their race or gender, according to Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington.

“It is awful of anyone to oppose this, much less a man who wants to be governor of Louisiana. In a country where abominable acts of violence based on hate still exist, Jindal wants to set the Louisiana criminal justice system back 50 years,” Whittington said.

[1]

LFF Action, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c) (4) advocacy organization and is associated with Louisiana Family Forum, the statewide “Voice for Traditional Families in Louisiana.” Louisiana Family Forum was formed in 1998 to promote family values in Louisiana and is the state affiliate of the national pro-family group, Focus on the Family.

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