But Wyoming congressional votes further misperception of statePresident Obama yesterday (Wednesday) signed an updated federal hate crimes bill into law. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been called by many the most sweeping legislation enacted since federal hate crimes laws were put in place following Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1968 assassination.The bill is named after University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard — who was beaten, tied to a fence on the prairie outside Laramie and left to die because of his sexual orientation — and for Texan James Byrd — who also was brutally beaten, then dragged behind a pickup truck until he died. The reason: Because he was black. Both crimes highlight the senseless brutality regularly associated with hate crimes. Existing hate crimes laws provide for federal assistance with investigating and prosecuting cases of violent crime committed against victims based on color, race, religion or national origin. The Shepard/Byrd act strengthens those laws to include attacks based on sexual orientation, disablity, gender or gender identity.The bill passed both houses of Congress by a strong majority — and without any help from Wyoming's congressional delegation. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., all voted against the bill. Lummis is the only one of the group to release an official statement about her vote. She claims, among other reasons, to have voted against the bill because “I do not believe a new federal hate crime law is necessary for violent crimes that are already illegal and impose stiff criminal penalties. All violent crimes are hateful and should be condemned. Like any other crime, despicable crimes motivated by hate or intolerance should be investigated, prosecuted and punished accordingly.”But the fact is, certain groups are more vulnerable and often singled out in violent attacks. That includes members of minority races, certain religious groups and, yes, homosexuals. The Matthew Shepard murder is a heinous example of a hate crime — and one that hits awfully close to home.The new law will provide additional training, funding and assistance to state and local agencies investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. According to National Public Radio, that funding is important: The Albany County Sheriff's office nearly went bankrupt prosecuting the Shepard case. The three “nays” not only convey a lack of support for prosecution of hate crimes cases, they also further a widespread misperception about attitudes in Wyoming.

But Wyoming congressional votes further misperception of state

President Obama yesterday (Wednesday) signed an updated federal hate crimes bill into law.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act has been called by many the most sweeping legislation enacted since federal hate crimes laws were put in place following Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1968 assassination.

The bill is named after University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard — who was beaten, tied to a fence on the prairie outside Laramie and left to die because of his sexual orientation — and for Texan James Byrd — who also was brutally beaten, then dragged behind a pickup truck until he died. The reason: Because he was black. Both crimes highlight the senseless brutality regularly associated with hate crimes.

Existing hate crimes laws provide for federal assistance with investigating and prosecuting cases of violent crime committed against victims based on color, race, religion or national origin. The Shepard/Byrd act strengthens those laws to include attacks based on sexual orientation, disablity, gender or gender identity.

The bill passed both houses of Congress by a strong majority — and without any help from Wyoming's congressional delegation. Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Sens. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., all voted against the bill.

Lummis is the only one of the group to release an official statement about her vote. She claims, among other reasons, to have voted against the bill because “I do not believe a new federal hate crime law is necessary for violent crimes that are already illegal and impose stiff criminal penalties. All violent crimes are hateful and should be condemned. Like any other crime, despicable crimes motivated by hate or intolerance should be investigated, prosecuted and punished accordingly.”

But the fact is, certain groups are more vulnerable and often singled out in violent attacks. That includes members of minority races, certain religious groups and, yes, homosexuals.

The Matthew Shepard murder is a heinous example of a hate crime — and one that hits awfully close to home.

The new law will provide additional training, funding and assistance to state and local agencies investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. According to National Public Radio, that funding is important: The Albany County Sheriff's office nearly went bankrupt prosecuting the Shepard case.

The three “nays” not only convey a lack of support for prosecution of hate crimes cases, they also further a widespread misperception about attitudes in Wyoming.