Senate called to order at 11:07 a.m.
President Hammargren presiding.
Roll called.
All present except Senator James, who was excused.
Prayer by the Chaplain, The Reverend Bruce Kochsmeier.
Almighty God.
Each new day is Yours. As we enter this day we ask that You would give us hearts that do not take for granted the gift we have in belonging to You. Make us mindful as this session begins that we are Your servants. As the leaders of Your people ponder the decisions that come before them today let Your wisdom be upon their hearts and in their minds. Let Your will be done with grace and compassion so that this state and all its people may know and reflect Your will. We pray in reliance upon Your steadfast promise of faithful care.

Amen.

Pledge of allegiance to the Flag.

Senator Raggio moved that further reading of the Journal be dispensed with, and the President and Secretary be authorized to make the necessary corrections and additions.
Motion carried.

William J. Raggio,

Chairman

Mr. President:
Your Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations, to which was referred Senate Bill No. 30, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Amend, and re-refer to the Committee on Finance.

Kathy Augustine,

Chairman

Mr. President:
Your Committee on Legislative Affairs and Operations, to which was referred Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 2, has had the same under consideration, and begs leave to report the same back with the recommendation: Amend, and be adopted as amended.

Kathy Augustine,

Chairman

Assembly Chamber, Carson City, February 6, 1997

To the Honorable the Senate:
I have the honor to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6.
Also, I have the honor to inform your honorable body that the Assembly on this day passed Assembly Joint Resolution No. 13 of the 68^th Session.
Jacqueline Sneddon

Assistant Chief Clerk of the Assembly

By the Committee on Commerce and Labor:
Senate Bill No. 125--An Act relating to direct sellers; clarifying the scope of their exemption from mandatory provisions regarding unemployment compensation; exempting certain direct sellers from mandatory provisions regarding industrial insurance; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Townsend moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Motion carried.

By the Committee on Commerce and Labor:
Senate Bill No. 126--An Act relating to public health; prohibiting the state hygienic laboratory from conducting certain examinations and analyses; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
Senator Townsend moved that the bill be referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
Motion carried.

Senate Bill No. 54.
Bill read second time, and ordered to third reading.

From: [email protected][SMTP:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, February 06, 1997 9:02 PM
To: Neal, Joseph Senator
Subject: race war

I always thought you were typical of what we get with aff.
action and other programs that promote the unqualified, but after
that rambling that you made yesterday we all know that you're a
dumb, fucking nigger. I suppose that you think that the prisons are
full of blacks because of racist courts, not because of the criminal
element that runs thru your species. Did you know that your species
accounts for 14% of the population and 70% of the crime? What's
the goals of your species in America, turn it into one of those great
black run countries like somilia, haitie or rawanda. FUCK YOU.

I would like this entered into the Journal as this person stated it. I would like his E-mail address highlighted because I would like this person to receive information from those people who take exception to his communication.
I know that some of you, in the Senate, received E-mail on this, but not this particular item. Some of you responded and I appreciate the response you gave to me. Senator Schneider received such a letter to which he responded. I appreciate that Senator. Senator Washington received such a communication and I appreciate the response he sent. Thank you, Senator Washington.
I don't know what we can do with this type of information. It does not make me angry except for the fact that I do not know who this individual is. Hopefully, with publication of his E-mail address, someone will call and let me know who this individual is. I'm going to put up $300 for anyone who calls and gives me the residential address or telephone number of the individual who sent this communication because I would like to meet him. Not to do him any harm, thank you, but only if he wants to harm me. Then, harm would come to this individual. I would like to know the identity of this individual because I think he is a coward. I did send a message to him through his E-mail address. I do not want to give that response to the press.
I think this person is a coward because he would not send his name. If he felt that way, why doesn't he let the public know how he feels. If he takes exception to what I say, then come and talk to me about it. I won't punch him in the nose for the first two or three seconds, but I would listen for that period of time.
Let me just say to this individual. Even though I support the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, I have never told anyone that I am nonviolent. Please, do not accept the fact that while I support the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, I am nonviolent; I am not. I believe in the law of self-defense heartily. I want that individual to know this. My good friend, who sits beside me, always takes the edge off these things. I appreciate his comical remarks. He said that the guy was making sexual advances to me. I can always depend on him to come through with some remark to relieve my anger when I share with him things that trouble me.
Beyond all of that, I would appreciate it if the press would respond accordingly and that they would print this communication.
Senator Washington requested that his remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to have my response to this person included in the Journal. I was very upset with the remarks that came over the E-mail. Therefore, I sent a response back to this individual because I wanted him to know that Senator Neal, myself and others in this chamber highly respect one another even though we may be on different sides of the fence and hold different opinions. We respect each other's efforts. I think it important that we do not let such incidences escalate. We are not here to talk about ethnic division, but we are here to serve the constituency of the state.
I replied as follows:

What makes a great American? Is it his birth, his achievements, his
success or status in life? Is greatness confined, or service to his state
or country limited by his race, creed or color? The founders of this
nation didn't think so. They said it is what lies within a man that
makes a great American, and which in turn makes America great.

I am a Republican, a Senator, an American and I am also Black. I
often disagree with Senator Neal's positions on issues, but I can tell
you that no matter our differences I always learn something from him.
If you are not afraid to send me your address, I would like to send you
a copy of his speech. I believe you would be blessed by its contents.
By the way, I believe that Senator Neal, by his service to all of us,
qualifies as a great American.

Signed: Senator Washington

Thank you, Mr. President.

Senator O'Donnell requested that his remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too received that piece of E-mail. I was incensed over it and thought of how I would respond to it. I sent a letter saying I could not respond to an E-mail address, but only to a person. I asked that the person let me know his name and I would then respond. He has not yet sent a letter in return.
I would like to tell you that I was very moved this weekend. Saturday, my son told me he has seen the movie "A Time to Kill." Neither my wife nor I had seen the movie. He was really interested in having us see this movie since he felt this movie was a very good movie.
We watched the movie. In the first part, the movie was about a little ten-year-old black girl. She was walking down an old country road carrying a bag of groceries. Two white men drove up in an old yellow pickup truck, got out of the truck, tore her clothes off, raped her, beat her, threw beer cans at her so forcefully that it ripped her flesh to the bone. They then placed a rope around her neck and hung her from a branch. The branch broke and she fell to the ground. They picked her up and threw her into the back of the truck. They took her to a river and threw her in. They urinated on her and gave her up for dead. She was then found by a couple of her friends, untied and taken home. She identified the two men who committed this crime. The two men were then arrested by the sheriff. The father of that young, ten-year-old girl was so incensed about the bigotry, hatred and the crime that had been committed that he hid himself in a closet in the courtroom. When those two 23-year-old boys were about to be arraigned, he burst out of the closet and shot both of them dead.
I did not grow up in a time of bigotry and hatred or perhaps I was sheltered from it. But, I guess bigotry and hatred still exist in this world. I guess we have to understand that those prejudices are born out of hate which is passed on from generation to generation. I know. I am Irish and I am Catholic. If you understand what has been going on in Ireland for the past 400 years, then you will understand that hate is passed on from one generation to another.
The next line in the Book of Ecclesiastics in the Bible, after the words "A Time to Kill" is "A Time to Heal." What we teach our children about the acceptance of individuals, whether they be black, white, red, brown or whatever, is what is imbedded in their brain forever. If you teach them hate - they will learn to hate. If you teach them acceptance - they will learn to accept. I am glad that my father taught me the values of acceptance and justice for all. I am glad, as I stand here before you today, that my son was so excited about this movie that he wanted us, his parents, to see it. He too has those values of justice and acceptance no matter what color you are.
I hope in the future that we dwell on a time to heal. Individuals such as this will have to be understood for the hate and bigotry that they were taught by their parents.

Senator Rawson requested that his remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Mr. President. I did not receive this E-mail and was surprised this morning when I heard these events unfolding. I am astounded that today we must tolerate these kinds of things. I have received hate mail in the past and I understand some of the emotions you experience when this occurs. I would like Senator Neal to know that he is our brother. If someone comes looking in the Senate for Joe Neal, then he is looking for all of us. I would appreciate the fact that Senator Neal does not go looking for a fight, but, if that happens, that is what happens. Absolutely, you are one of us.

Senator Raggio requested that his remarks be entered in the Journal.
Thank you, Mr. President. I think enough has been said about the issue, but I would also like to let Senator Neal know that it does not matter who is attacked in the Senate or the Legislature. We may differ on issues, but there is congeniality and respect. On this particular issue, I know that the Senator is aware of my feelings concerning these types of actions. I abhor them. I know he is suggesting he may meet this fellow. Senator Rawson, as a brother, said that he would be ready to physically attack this situation. I would offer my services as well, but I need to indicate that this has never been my strong suit. My record for fighting in high school was 0-2.
Seriously, this is one thing which has always troubled me as a person elected to public office. That is, the cowards who anonymously send messages. Anything I receive anonymously goes into the wastebasket. I am always troubled by the ability of someone to hide behind the privilege of free speech. I do not think free speech was meant to indicate that you can say anything you want about a person and remain anonymous. Radio talk shows, some newspaper articles where names are not required, bother me. I think people should be required to tell you who they are when they want to criticize you.

Senator Raggio moved that the Senate adjourn until Wednesday, February 12, 1997 at 11 a.m.
Motion carried.

Senate adjourned at 11:38 a.m.

Approved:

Lonnie L. Hammargren, M.D.

President of the Senate
Attest: Janice L. Thomas
Secretary of the Senate