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Burning crosses would be a crime under a bill given first round approval in the House

The Missouri House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to a bill making cross burning a crime. Monica Walter reports from the state Capitol.

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Burning a cross with the intent to intimidate someone would mean jailtime.

Supporters of the bill say there have been a few recent cases of cross burning in Missouri.

St. Louis area Representative Esther Haywood says the bill defines the crime....making it easier to prosecute.

Criminals would face up to a year in jail for a first offense and up to seven years for a second offense. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.

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Date:03-16-04

By: Monica Walter

State Capital Bureau

Burning a cross with the intent to intimidate someone would be punishable by jailtime under a bill approved Tuesday by the Missouri House of Representatives. Monica Walter reports from the state Capitol.

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Sponsors of the bill say Missouri is one of the last states without a law against cross burning.

St. Louis County Representative Esther Haywood says she was surprised to find out that this was not a crime.

Haywood says there have been a few cross burning cases recently in Missouri. From the state Capitol, I'm Monica Walter.