Certain Groups of People Excluded From New SC Hate Crime Bill

An amendment protecting several different groups of people was axed from a proposed hate crime bill in South Carolina. This new bill would enforce stricter prison sentences for those convicted of various hate crimes based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin and physical or mental disability. However, sexual orientation, creed, gender, age and ancestry were removed from the bill. While some are now questioning the worth of the bill, conservatives argued including those groups could leave religious institutions unprotected or cause SC House Republican members to withdraw their support. South Carolina is one of only three states that does not have a federal hate crime law.