Assemblyman Rory Lancman center with Congregation Ohr Natan in Rego Park flanked by Rabbi Nahum Kaziyev, and the archetype for political corruption Toby Stavisky (D-Queens), Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Queens), Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) plus members of Congregation Ohr Natan.
Lancman’s new bill will help protect houses of worship by increasing the penalties for hate crimes perpetrated by klansmen and neo-nazis. Ok, on a serious note, if the bill becomes law it should deter criminals from violently expressing religious intolerance while restoring a sense of security to shaken congregations.
The specifics:
- Increase the penalty for theft or the intentional damage to a scroll, vessel or any other item used in connection with religious worship in any house of worship, to a maximum of seven years in prison from four by classifying these crimes as third-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief, both Class D Felonies. Currently, these charges would only apply in cases where items worth more than $3,000 have been stolen, or where items have sustained more than $1,500 in damages.
- Increase the penalty for theft of any scroll, religious vessel or any other item valued at more than $250 used in connection with religious worship in any house of worship to a maximum of fifteen years in prison from seven by classifying these crimes as second-degree grand larceny, which is a Class C felony.
- Increase the penalty for any intentional damage to house of worship-owned property to a maximum of four years in prison from one year, by making it a Class E felony. Currently, this penalty applies only where the damage is worth more than $250.
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