HCS HB 1074 & 1129 -- CROSS BURNING

SPONSOR:  Bland (Byrd)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Urban Issues by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute makes it a crime to burn a cross with intent to
intimidate any person.  The crime is a class A misdemeanor, and a
second or subsequent offense is a class D felony.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2005, FY 2006, and
FY 2007.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that cross burning is the ultimate
act of intimidation and is only done to instill fear.  The bill
shows that Missouri will not tolerate this behavior.  The recent
ruling by the United States Supreme Court said that the unique
history of cross burning as a means to intimidate was enough to
reason that such an action is not afforded protection under the
First Amendment.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Haywood and Byrd;
Anti-Defamation League; and Missouri Catholic Conference.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am