Orrin Hatch: “I respect my colleagues. I think we are all here to try to get at the same problem. I respect Senator Kennedy for his…”

“I respect my colleagues. I think we are all here to try to get at the same problem. I respect Senator Kennedy for his sincere effort to try to do what is right with regard to civil rights matters generally, and with regard to hate crimes in particular. I feel very much the same way. This is a great country. It is the greatest in the world. We ought to set an example. We ought to do the things that really need to be done. But I think we have to have the facts before we act. I don't think we should federalize crimes. I think this amendment is too broad. We are approaching this in two different ways. I hope we can somehow or other get together to solve this matter in a way that will make sense--that respects the principles of federalism, that respects the States in their efforts to combat hate crimes. Right now, we are not sure there are any States or local jurisdictions out there that are failing or refusing to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. You can cite the James Byrd and Matthew Shepard cases as two illustrations where State authorities have done a tremendous job in prosecuting horrific, hate-motivated crimes. I don't think anybody should have to suffer from hate crime activity.”