The Nation : House Votes to Collect Hate Crime Data

The House voted to require the FBI for the first time to collect data on hate crimes. The measure, which passed 368 to 47, requires the FBI to collect statistics for five years starting in 1991 on murder, assault, robbery, burglary, theft, arson, vandalism, trespassing and threats against people based on their race, religion, national origin, sexual preference or any other category the Justice Department opts to include. Rep. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the measure would help law enforcement authorities learn the sources and targets of “an explosion of attacks based on bias and prejudice.” However, Rep. William E. Dannemeyer (R-Fullerton) argued that including a “sexual preference” category would tend to legitimize gay behavior, which he said he believes is morally wrong.