TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR CRIMES COMMITTED IN A CHURCH, SYNAGOGUE, MOSQUE OR OTHER PLACE OF WORSHIP

BODY
WHEREAS, on August 24, 2009, a masked, armed robber entered the Jordan Grove Missionary Church in Liberty City, and at gunpoint forced the pastor, church employees and volunteers to empty their pockets of wallets, cash and cell phones; and
WHEREAS, the robber then stole the pastor�s 2005 Lincoln Towncar; and
WHEREAS, one week later, on August 31, the Jordan Grove Missionary Church again was robbed and a computer and other electronics were stolen; and
WHEREAS, for centuries, churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship have served as spiritual sanctuaries and sacred places of safety and security; and
WHEREAS, because of their nature and mission, churches and other places of worship are open, welcoming and trusting environments, yet regrettably these very attributes also make places of worship more�susceptible to opportunistic criminals; and
WHEREAS, despite some criminals considering crimes at churches and other places of worship to be taboo, national statistics suggest that crime in places of worship has been on the rise in recent years; and
WHEREAS, more important than valuables that are stolen, crimes in churches and other places of worship can have a significant psychological impact on a congregation and its sense of security in the sanctuary, similar to what a home-invasion robbery might have on a family; and
WHEREAS, Florida law currently provides for enhanced criminal penalties for hate crimes based on religion and for willfully and maliciously defacing, injuring or damaging a church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship; and
WHEREAS, Florida law currently does not provide for enhanced penalties for armed robbery and other crimes that occur in churches or other places of worship, such as the crimes that occurred in recent weeks at the Jordan Grove Missionary Church; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature should pass legislation enhancing the penalties for crimes that take place in churches and other places of worship,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to enhance penalties for crimes committed in a church, synagogue, mosque or other place of worship.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of the resolution to the Governor; the Senate President; the House Speaker; and the Chair and Members of the MiamiDade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the issues identified in Section 1 above, and directs that the 2010 state legislative package be amended to include this item.