Herb Kohl: “I rise to cosponsor the Church Arson Protection Act of 1996 introduced today by Senators Kennedy and Faircloth. Since…”

“I rise to cosponsor the Church Arson Protection Act of 1996 introduced today by Senators Kennedy and Faircloth. Since the beginning of this year, a series of fires have swept our country. More than 30 predominantly African-American churches in the southeast have been burned. Not all of the fires have been set by people filled with racial hatred. But many have. And even one is too much. Passing this measure is the least we can do to address this problem. With this new law, we send a clear message to every person who is thinking of setting fire to a place of worship: we will catch you. If you think that any church is small and remote, think again. No church is too small or remote for us not to care about it. If you think that you can burn all of the evidence, think again. We will find the evidence. If you think that no one cares if you burn a church used by African Americans, think again. This Nation condemns your actions. In the last few months, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and State and local law enforcement have vigorously investigated the fires in our churches. They have made numerous arrests and have leads on many other cases. Despite this progress, the news of these fires is genuinely disturbing and perplexing. How could anyone do such a heinous thing? How could anyone burn a church and feel proud of their actions? No one who is truly committed to the principles of our country could do this.”