Duncan Faircloth: “Senator Kennedy and I stand here today united in our belief that the rash of church arson must end and now. If we in…”

“Senator Kennedy and I stand here today united in our belief that the rash of church arson must end and now. If we in Congress cannot agree that church burning is a despicable crime, what can we agree upon? It is not a matter of liberals, conservatives, blacks, or whites. It is about justice, faith, and right and wrong. Five of these churches--sadly, including a recent one on last Sunday night--were located in my home State of North Carolina. I have every confidence that local law enforcement in my State can solve these crimes, but there is a real possibility that persons from outside of my State and other States may have set the fires, and that is the need for this bill and for Federal law enforcement assistance and a Federal statute. We have taken too long as a nation to react to this tragedy. I do not know why the response has been so slow, nor do I fully understand if these crimes were the acts of conspirators or copycats. What I do know is that we are sending a clear message today to anyone who is thinking about burning a church, that the wrath of the Federal Government will fall upon them. Scoundrels who burn churches have no refuge in our America on this day or any other day. They should and will be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. To that end, Senator Kennedy and I have introduced this bill, full of both symbol and substance, to protect houses of worship.”