IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT BEATING DEATHS OF TWO TRANSIENTS IN ALBUQUERQUE, A STATE LAWMAKER SAYS HE PLANS TO REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR TO PROTECT THE HOMELESS. SENATOR BILL O'NEILL OF ALBUQUERQUE SAYS HIS PROPOSAL WOULD INCLUDE THE HOMELESS AS A PROTECTED CLASS IN NEW MEXICO'S HATE CRIME LEGISLATION.
O'NEILL SAYS THE HOMELESS ARE OFTEN TARGETED AND ASSAULTED BECAUSE THEY'RE VULNERABLE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSAULT THEM IS THERE.
O'NEILL INTRODUCED A SIMILAR BILL DURING THE 2013 LEGISLATIVE SESSION…BUT TIME RAN OUT BEFORE IT COULD BE PASSED. THOSE GUILTY OF HATE CRIMES CAN HAVE UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS TACKED ON TO THEIR SENTENCE.
