Lawmaker wants Oklahoma exempted from federal hate crime laws

The Republicans just keep getting more extreme, don't they?

In Oklahoma, right-wing State Sen. Steve Russell plans to introduce a bill to pull the Sooner State out of federal hate crime laws.

What???

He thinks a state can exempt itself from a federal law that protects the public from violent crimes? You're a nut, Steve.

He says the federal hate crime statute violates free speech. Seriously, he said that. He thinks hate crimes are constitutionally protected speech.

Idiot.

(Source: http://oudaily.com/news/2009/nov/17/okla-senator-propose-bill-counter-hate-crimes-law)