Hate crimes: Why we need federal law

In response to Hasso Hering's Sunday editorial of May 3, in which he asserts we don't need federal hate crime laws: He's wrong, but before I explain why, I would like to correct Congressman Earl Blumenauer's statistics regarding hate crimes. The statistics cited understate the number by half. We've had at least six hate crimes in Oregon in the past 12 months; the four cited by the congressman, plus two officially unreported hate crimes here on the Oregon State University campus since October of 2008, one against a transgender student, and the other an attack on a gay male student.

Both of these students declined to file official reports out of fear, which is exactly what their attackers intended. Hate crimes are intended to both instill fear and silence the victims and their communities. This is why it is so important for us as a society to tell perpetrators that we won't acquiesce to such behavior by enhancing punishments for these crimes.

Hate crimes legislation is needed at the federal level because, even in the 21st century, many states, primarily in the south and midwest, refuse to recognize that hatred on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals is frequently the only motivating factor behind the attacks and murders the LGBT community regularly endures and protects its citizens accordingly.

It's time American society owned up to this problem and directed all law enforcement agencies to begin gathering appropriate statistics and enforcing laws uniformly across the entire country, not just parts of it.

Steven Leider, Director

Office of Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender Outreach and Services, Oregon State University

What if states ignore those offenses?

Mr. Hering's viewpoint titled "The feds don't need to do this" was a slap to the faces of your gay and lesbian readers. I would suggest that before you print such a commentary, you research the subject matter more thoroughly.

The Local Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act is necessary. This law would allow the Department of Justice to give aid to state and local authorities, or intervene in situations where those authorities may choose to ignore us because of misplaced prejudices. They may not happen in Oregon, as you suggest. But what happens in other states?

In addition, the LLEHCPA is endorsed by over 280 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations, including the National Sheriffs' Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National District Attorneys Association, Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Young Women's Christian Association and National Disability Rights Network. They obviously know something you don't.

Jack Long, Jefferson

Two of my favorites, and both in one edition

Wow! The Sunday issue of the D-H had two of my favorite people on the planet. Have had an affinity to Larry Crompton for years, and Robert B. Parker is my favorite author, hands down.

If you have never read a Spenser novel by Parker, you are in for a treat. There are about a bazillion Spenser novels and all are superb, brilliantly written and funny times two. I've read them all - some two or three times.

You will meet Susan, Hawk, Pearl the wonder dog, and characters you will be talking about for years.

The paper strikes again.

John Penrod, Lebanon

Trauma care in jeopardy at Oregon hospitals

The way in which decisions are made for treating our most critically injured residents is currently in jeopardy as part of the current state budget talks.

Oregon's Trauma System was established 20 years ago as the first all-inclusive trauma system in the country. As part of this system, every Oregon hospital holds a trauma designation that reflects the level of trauma care available there. This designation is used every time an EMS team decides where to transport a patient, because delivering patients to the appropriate trauma center as quickly as possible saves lives.

Oregon's Trauma System provides care for approximately 10,000 critically injured patients each year. Without this system, many would not survive.

Today, this well-functioning system is itself threatened because of looming budget cuts that would eliminate state funding for the program. Without this system, hospitals would no longer be required to meet specific trauma care requirements, and our EMS personnel would no longer be required to transport trauma patients to specialized hospitals.

Although the Oregon Trauma System costs each Oregonian only about 10 cents per year to operate, the true cost of its elimination would be measured in unnecessary loss of life as well as loss of an irreplaceable state resource.

Those of us who care for trauma patients appreciate the challenges posed by our state legislators as they are forced to make painful budget choices. It is our belief, however, that fiscal priorities should first focus on preserving vital infrastructure that provides life-saving services. Oregon's Trauma System is one such program. Please help us to ensure that this important service is retained.

Bob Read, MD, PhD

Corvallis

Bob Read, a Corvallis vascular surgeon, is chairman of the Oregon State Trauma Advisory Board.

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