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Introduced Version House Bill 2148 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2148


(By Delegates Overington, Carmichael and Sumner)
[Introduced January 9, 2008; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.]




A BILL to amend and reenact §61-6-21 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing that all persons have the right to be free from violence without regard to the motivation behind the violence.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §61-6-21 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. CRIMES AGAINST THE PEACE.

§61-6-21. Prohibiting violations of an individual's civil rights; penalties.

(a) All persons within the boundaries of the State of West Virginia have the right to be free from any violence or intimidation by threat of violence, committed against their persons or property. because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or sex Therefore, the punishments called for in this chapter should be vigorously enforced to ensure the protection of all persons from violence against their person or property.
(b) If any person does by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate or interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate or interfere with, or oppress or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of the state of West Virginia or by the Constitution or laws of the United States, because of such other person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or sex, he or she shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(c) If any person conspires with another person or persons to willfully injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate or interfere with any citizen because of such other person's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or sex in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him or her by the Constitution or laws of the state of West Virginia or by the Constitution or laws of the United States, and in willfull furtherance thereof to assemble with one or more persons for the purpose of teaching any technique or means capable of causing property damage, bodily injury or death when such person or persons intend to employ such techniques or means to violate this section, each such person shall be guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
(d) The fact that a person committed a felony or misdemeanor, or attempted to commit a felony, because of the victim's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, political affiliation or sex, shall be considered a circumstance in aggravation of any crime in imposing sentence.
(e) Nothing contained in this section makes unlawful the teaching of any technique in self-defense.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to make it unlawful nor to prohibit nor, in any manner, to impede or to interfere with any person in conducting labor union or labor union organizing activities.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that all persons have the right to be free from violence without regard to the motivation behind the violence.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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