Mississippi lawmakers push to amend state law on hate crimes to protect LGBT

JACKSON, MS (WLOX) - Right now, Mississippi’s hate crime laws do not extend to victims targeted because of their sexual orientation, making it impossible for someone to be tried and convicted at the state level. One state lawmaker is hoping to change that by introducing new legislation that would expand the current hate crime laws to include crimes against LGBT people.

State house bill 1949 and state senate bill 2163 would add protections for victims who are targeted because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

State senator David Blount authored the senate bill. He says it’s all about the future of the legislation.

“If you’re murdered because your black there is an enhancement. If you’re murdered because you’re a woman, there is an enhancement. If you’re murdered because you’re a transgender, there’s not and that is heartbreaking to me.”

Read more: http://www.wlbt.com/2019/02/04/mississippi-lawmakers-push-amend-state-law-hate-crimes-protect-lgbt/