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You are quite wrong. I provided a link in a previous response that will lead you quickly to the actual text. It clearly states that a crime of violence must be involved. Here's the gist:

SEC. __04. SUPPORT FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS AND PROSECUTIONS BY STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

(a) ASSISTANCE OTHER THAN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.--

(1) IN GENERAL.--At the request of a law enforcement official of a State or Indian tribe, the Attorney General may provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or any other form of assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of any crime that--

(A) constitutes a crime of violence (as defined in section 16 of title 18, United States Code);

(B) constitutes a felony under the laws of the State or Indian tribe; and

(C) is motivated by prejudice based on the race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of the victim, or is a violation of the hate crime laws of the State or Indian tribe.

SNIP

(a) IN GENERAL.--Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``§249. Hate crime acts

``(a) IN GENERAL.--

``(1) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN.--Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person--

``(A) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

``(B) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

``(i) death results from the offense; or

``(ii) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

``(2) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR DISABILITY.--

``(A) IN GENERAL.--Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability of any person--

``(i) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

``(ii) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

``(I) death results from the offense; or

``(II) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

Perhaps you can explain how any of this supports the prosecution of public Bible reading?

Actually - I don't see a need for any sort of hate crime legislation. A crime is a crime, regardless of who commits it against whom. If a heterosexual kills a homosexual, for whatever reason, it's murder - same as if a homosexual kills a heterosexual. To pile on additional punishment because the the crime is committed against someone because of their ethnic origin, sexual orientation, religion, or anything simply gives that class more status than the person who committed the crime. In other words, to say that a heterosexual should have more jail time for killing a homosexual, than he or she would for killing another heterosexual is simply wrong.

As far as it turning into a thought crime issue, it's already happening in Europe. A Swedish pastor served jail time for preaching against homosexuality. Canada is in the process of adopting similar laws, if they haven't done so already. It's not far down the road for the US.

http://thomas.loc.gov/

50 Bills from the 108th Congress ranked by relevance on"Hate Crimes ".

17 bills containing your phrase exactly as entered

Listing of 17 bills containing your phrase exactly as entered.

1 . Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)[H.R.80.IH]
2 . Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2004 (Introduced in House)[H.R.4204.IH]
3 . Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)[S.966.IS]
4 . Expressing the sense of Congress in support of the ongoing work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in combating anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, discrimination,... (Introduced in Senate)[S.CON.RES.110.IS]
5 . Expressing the sense of Congress in support of the ongoing work of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in combating anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, discrimination,... (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.425.IH]
6 . Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp commemorating Anne Frank. (Introduced in Senate)[S.RES.169.IS]
7 . Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp commemorating Anne Frank. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.273.IH]
8 . Condemning the recent increase in acts of anti-Semitism in member countries of the European Union, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.616.IH]
9 . Equal Rights and Equal Dignity for Americans Act of 2003 (Introduced in Senate)[S.16.IS]
10 . Community Security Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.2459.IS]
11 . To establish a Department of Peace. (Introduced in House)[H.R.1673.IH]
12 . Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Reported in House)[H.R.2799.RH]
13 . Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.R.2799.EH]
14 . Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Received in Senate from House)[H.R.2799.RDS]
15 . Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (Placed on Calendar in Senate)[H.R.2799.PCS]
16 . Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003 (Introduced in House)[H.R.247.IH]
17 . Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004 (Enrolled as Agreed to or Passed by Both House and Senate)[H.R.2673.ENR]