| Show Bias Crimes Bills Defeated In State I Where Gay Student Was Killed f. f College Press Exchange CHEYENNE Wyo Wyoming legislators quashed two bills that would have stiffened penalties for crimes motivated by bias Calls for new regulations V VV V increased after the October beating death of Matthew Shepard a stuA student student stu stu- A dent at the University of Wyoming Police have said Shepards Shepard's homosexuality homosexuality homosexuality homo homo- sexuality motivated his attackers to kill him The proposals that died in the states state's Senate Judiciary Committee would have increased the maximum fine for a felony by as much as and the maximum prison sentence by up to five years if prosecutors prosecutors prosecutors pros pros- could prove the crime was linked to bias State Sen John chairman chairman chairman chair chair- man of the committee who voted against the proposed bill said he hopes supporters of crime bias-crime legislation legislation legislation leg leg- will return with legislation that has broader support This legislation as written does not fit with what this state wishes to have in a bias crimes bill he told the Associated Press Opponents of the bill said they didn't support adding motivating factors such as race religion and sexual orientation to the legislation because it would offer special protection protection protection pro pro- to certain groups Others said no new laws are necessary and that existing laws need to be more strictly enforced State lawmakers have rejected four similar propos proposals ls since 1995 Wyoming remains one of only a afew afew afew few states that dont don't have legislation legislation legislation legisla legisla- tion specifically targeted at bias- bias crime 1 |
