Political Violence Crackdown: New NJ Law Could Toughen Penalties

As politically motivated violence continues to grow across the country, one New Jersey lawmaker is looking to make a change.

Senator Doug Steinhardt (R-23) announced legislation that will classify political violence as a hate crime under New Jersey law.

"This political hate crime bill protects everyone — Conservative, Liberal, and Independent,” said Steinhardt. "No person should fear hate-fueled political violence for expressing their opinion, and anyone who resorts to such violence to silence that opinion will suffer the full weight of the law. Hate-fueled political violence hurts everyone and erodes the very principles on which our Republic was built."

Under the proposed law, criminal acts like assault, arson, terroristic threats, manslaughter, and murder, which are politically motivated, would be classified as hate crimes and subject to enhanced penalties.

"This legislation does not infringe upon First Amendment rights," Steinhardt said, "But instead protects and promotes them. Political violence is everywhere, unfortunately. We can either lead in addressing it or ignore it and let it fester."

Steinhardt pointed to the recent fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday. Kirk, co-founder and CEO of the conservative youth group Turning Point USA, was shot dead during a college event in Utah. Video from the event shows Kirk falling from his chair as a shot was fired in his lower neck.

Steinhardt also pointed to a slew of other incidents in the country, including:

• Multiple assassination attempts against President Donald Trump
• The recent killing of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband
• The shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife just hours earlier
• The attempted assassination of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
• An arson attack at the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home
• The assault of Representative Nancy Mace in the U.S. Capitol
• The assault by a Washington State University teaching assistant of a student for wearing a MAGA hat
• Shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in D.C.
• Arson at the New Mexico Republican Headquarters
• Attacks on Tesla dealerships
• Shootings at a Democratic National Committee office in Arizona
• Threats of violence against Ohio gubernatorial candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy
• The assault of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul, with a hammer at their home
• And the shooting of members of Congress at a bipartisan baseball practice

"These are not isolated events. They represent a dangerous pattern, and it’s time we confront it directly," said Steinhardt.

Steinhardt credited Sussex County Commissioner Director Chris Carney for helping to shape the legislative proposal.

"Commissioner Carney was instrumental in helping me develop this idea, a first of its kind in the Nation," Steinhardt said. "His leadership and foresight are part of what make this bill strong, fair, and necessary."

The legislation is expected to be formally introduced when the Legislature returns late this fall.