President Barack Obama took a step toward quieting some of his critics last week when he signed a new hate crimes bill into law. Obama has been criticized by left-wingers for his slow response to promises he made to ensure equality between heterosexuals and homosexuals, such as repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” However, with the signing of this new hate crimes bill, Obama has taken a big step toward ensuring the rights of every American.

The FBI reported more than 77,000 hate crimes between 1998 and 2007. This includes a significant rise in the number of hate crimes based upon sexual orientation – 12,000 reported over the last 10 years, according to CNN.

The original 1969 federal hate crime laws did not cover any victims singled out because of their sexual orientation, gender or disability. This year’s expanded bill does. Hate crime laws are intended to prevent singling out specific victims based on physical characteristics such as gender or race, as well as personal beliefs such as religion. Each state has its own varying hate crime laws, with only five states being cited as having “minimal or no hate crime laws.” As with any new federal law, outspoken critics are looking to be heard. In this case, it is primarily conservative religious groups who fear this expanded hate crimes bill will restrict their ability to oppress other people. Apparently, the critics do not understand that the First Amendment protects the right to speak your mind, not the right to punch someone in the face.

As Attorney General Eric Holder stated, the new bill only targets “violent acts based on bias.” Citizens still have the right to say how much they hate homosexuals, blacks, Jews, little people or gingers. As protected under the First Amendment, you can still verbally oppress whomever you want. But if you take action to physically assert your dominance, you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

As childish as it may seem, there is truth to the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” No one has ever lost an arm or a leg because someone hurled an insult at them. But hurl a few sticks, stones or bullets at someone and you will lose count of the number of bones that may become broken.

To be sure, words can be used to incite physical violence. But if we start making laws restricting hate speech, then we start running many risks. The opinions of government are ever changing, and it’s dangerous to allow the government to restrict speech.

I will never condone those who incite or partake in hate speech because their intolerance permeates the entire community. It is time for people to accept that everyone is different and begin to recognize and tolerate those differences, so we can go on living our lives without fear of violence.