INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Legislation targeting hate crimes has died once again in the Indiana Legislature, keeping the state one of only five without such a law.
The bill failed Monday on the same day that the Indianapolis Jewish Community Center received a bomb threat.
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Republican Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange says there wasn't enough support to move her bill forward. She cited amendments sought by fellow GOP Sen. Mike Delph of Carmel that would have gutted the bill.
"While I have made the decision not to move the bill this year, I will continue working on this issue in the coming months with the hopes of possibly bringing it back during next year’s legislative session,” Glick said in a statement.
The other four states are Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas and Wyoming.
The measure would have allowed judges to impose tougher sentences for crimes motivated by race, religion, sex, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Similar measures proposed in past years also failed.
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Opponents say hate crime laws create special protected classed that treat victims of similar crimes differently.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there are 26 hate groups in Indiana:
- Traditionalist Worker Party - Columbus, Indiana
- American Vikings - Indianapolis, Indiana
- Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Muncie, Indiana
- Nation of Islam - Indianapolis, Indiana
- Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge - Indianapolis, Indiana
- Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Indianapolis, Indiana
- The Daily Stormer - Indianapolis, Indiana
- Confederate White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Madison, Indiana
- Sons & Daughters of Liberty - Indiana (statewide)
- Firm 22 - Indiana (statewide)
- American Freedom Party - Indiana
- Vinlanders Social Club - Indiana (statewide)
- Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Indiana (statewide)
- Blood and Honour Social Club - Indiana (statewide)
- Soldiers of Odin - Indiana (statewide)
- Gallows Tree Wotansvolk Alliance - Indiana (statewide)
- United Dixie White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Indiana (statewide)
- Traditionalist Youth Network - Bloomington, Indiana
- Ku Klos Knights of the Ku Klux Klan - Kokomo, Indiana
- Traditionalist Worker Party - Paoli, Indiana
- Traditionalist Youth Network - Paoli, Indiana
- WTM Enterprises - Roanoke, Indiana
- Campus Ministry USA, The - Terre Haute, Indiana
