Rocky Mountain News

To Editor:

It’s certainly true that there’s an urgent need for a federal hate crimes law (“Federal hate crimes bill remains a goal,” October 4), and it is unfortunate that President Bush vetoed the 2007 Mathew Shepard Act that would have permitted federal authorities to provide assistance to local law enforcement when hate crimes occur.

Unfortunately and shamefully, it’s equally true that the state of Wyoming is one of only five states that does not have a state hate crimes law. Hate crimes are message crimes; they send a threatening message to the victim and every member of the victim’s community. It’s high time that Wyoming enacts a hate crimes law to send the opposite message on behalf of the leaders and the good people of the state, that all its residents are welcome and safe. Wyoming is no place for hate.

Bruce H. DeBoskey, Regional Director, Mountain States Anti-Defamation League