Okay, so the title of this post may be inaccurate and overly dramatic, but the truth isn't much better. The Oklahoma Senate has voted 39-6 to approve Senator Steve Russell's bill that provides exemption from complying to federal hate crimes laws. The bill will now move to the House for a vote.
"We just don’t want the pendulum to swing too far the other way,” said Russell. "This protects people to do or say whatever they want, as long as it complies with local ordinances.” Under the bill, local law enforcement officials would be able to push aside crimes against LGBT individuals.
What's the motivation behind all of this? According to Russell, the federal law is too vague. “Sexual orientation is a very vague word that could be extended to extremes like necrophilia," he says. Yes, because clearly the government approved this law to protect individuals who fuck dead people. Insert eye-roll here.
– Dewitt
That pic is GREAT! lol.
How dare any state refuse any mandate by the federal government. These people should be in prison.
I am ashamed to say that I live in Oklahoma. This is so embarrassing. However, I don’t feel this is a fair representation of the constituency. Oklahoma City and Tulsa are extremely gay friendly. I’m hoping the Oklahoma ACLU has some plan of action. This is what happens when your state government is full of filthy, Republican, bible-thumping Christians.
oh my god! Are they allowed to do that?! WTF! Isnt there any provision in the federal law that prohibits states from overriding it? Whats the use of having any federal laws then? So even if Gay marriages are allowed federally, there could be states that override it?
No they are not allowed to turn their backs on federal law. Should they proceed, they will forfeit any and all federal funds their state receives in any capacity.
What this guy is doing is part of the Nullification movement, an effort to establish a principle that states can override the federal government. The last time this principle was asserted, it led to the Civil War. It’s an illegal and extremely dangerous principle that needs to be stamped out.
Dewitt considering how many middle of the night trips the state senator has made 2 the cemetary U would think he would be all N favor of a law that protect necrophilia…
Darson, Sorry, but that’s not the case. While you’re right that a state may not refuse to comply with a lawful federal mandate (ie one that the federal government may constitutionally impose on a state), if a state refuses, it’s up to Congress to define a penalty for doing so; it’s up to the US Justice Department to seek enforcement of the mandate; it’s up to a federal judge to issue an order mandating compliance; and it’s up to the executive branch to enforce the law, if necessary by sending in federal marshals or someone similar. But there is no blanket “relinquishing” of federal money automatically for failing to accede to a lawful federal policy directive.
I have to tell the truth and shame the Devil. . .
. . .every time a tornado touches down in Oklahoma and tears up shit, I applaud.
Fucken stupid sodbusters; I hate ’em.
I feel the pain of all of the comments here. My stomach is rolling at such blatant stupidity and hatred by the people of Oklahoma. Despite the fact that Tulsa and Oklahoma City are “extremely gay friendly” the rubes of OK still elected these monsters. What a shameful state. Oklahoma has to be the most backward state in the country. Maybe it would be in the best interest of all Americans if Oklahoma left the Union. The ugly truth is we can not legislate tolerance and these people are beyond the reach of any amount of sensible reasoning.
why are americans so fucking sad and 40 years behind europe???
yet another reason i’m sad to be an oklahoman.