Arlen Specter: “I support the amendment which will give jurisdiction to the Federal Government over hate crimes. Ordinarily, I support…”

“I support the amendment which will give jurisdiction to the Federal Government over hate crimes. Ordinarily, I support jurisdiction for the district attorney. Senator Hatch points out the National District Attorneys Association has taken on a position. I was a long-term member of that association as district attorney of Philadelphia. The fact is, prosecutors are county officials of the State system. There are great pressures against prosecutions where there is a matter of sexual orientation, or where there may be a matter of race, or where there may be a matter of religion or other hate-related crimes. That is why I believe this is a unique field where the Federal Government ought to be involved. Ordinarily, it should be up to the local prosecutor. That is a principle to which I subscribe. But here it ought to be a matter for the Federal Government.”