South Bend Tribune
Indiana is one of only five states without bias crime legislation. And recent weeks have demonstrated the difficulty ending that dubious distinction.
Before the current legislative session began, Gov. Eric Holcomb made passing a hate crimes law a priority. But last month, the Republican-led Senate gutted a bias crime proposal, removing sexual orientation, gender identity, race and a list of other characteristics. Senate Bill 12 passed the Senate 39 to 10 and moves to the House for consideration and possible amendments.
Holcomb called that watered-down measure too vague, and noted it “does not get Indiana off the list of states without a bias crime law.”
A majority of Hoosiers support such action: A statewide survey of 600 registered voters for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce found 74 percent favor such legislation.
Holcomb said that more than 800 people had contacted his office about hate crimes — only 32 were against a bill featuring a list of protected characteristics. He said the more effective way to see a true hate crimes bill passed is for Hoosiers to contact their legislators.
He’s right. Indiana’s failure sends the wrong message. It’s up to Hoosiers to tell their legislators to send the right one by passing meaningful hate crime legislation.
