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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 263 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 263

                      Relating to church burning.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 1996

Ms. Moseley-Braun (for herself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Kempthorne, 
 Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Lieberman, 
  Mrs. Murray, Mr. Pell, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 
 Biden, Mr. Simon, and Mr. Harkin) submitted the following resolution; 
                       which was held at the desk

                             June 18, 1996

               Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
                      Relating to church burning.

Whereas there have been at least 32 fires of suspicious origin at churches 
        serving African-American communities in the last 18 months;
Whereas these churches are a vital part of the life of these communities;
Whereas intentionally burning churches is a very heinous crime in these 
        communities, and all across America, because church burning was used 
        during the civil rights struggle in an attempt to intimidate African-
        Americans from exercising their Constitutional rights;
Whereas there have been at least 60 fires and incidents of desecration in houses 
        of worship in 15 different States since 1990;
Whereas intentionally burning churches, when done to intimidate any American 
        from the free exercise of his or her rights as an American, is 
        inconsistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, 
        which guarantees every American the right to the free exercise of his or 
        her religion;
Whereas intentionally burning churches, when done to intimidate any American 
        from the free exercise of his or her rights as an American is also 
        inconsistent with the First Amendment guarantee that ensures that 
        Americans can freely and peaceably assemble together; and
Whereas intentionally burning churches, when done to intimidate any American 
        from the free exercise of his or her rights is a serious national 
        problem that must be expeditiously and vigorously addressed: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate condemns arson against churches as being 
        totally inconsistent with American values;
            (2) the Senate believes that the investigation and 
        prosecution of those who are responsible for fires at churches, 
        and especially any incidents of arson whose purpose is to 
        divide communities or to intimidate any Americans, should be a 
        high national priority; and
            (3) the Senate commends the President for pledging to 
        devote all Federal resources necessary to bring those 
        responsible for committing any act of arson against churches to 
        justice, and urges that all investigations of fires at churches 
        which are of suspicious origin are conducted in a sensitive 
        manner that reflects the special character of churches and the 
        role they play in American communities.
                                 <all>
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