(Utica)- New York State Senator Joseph A. Griffo (R,C-47) today called on his fellow lawmakers to pass two bills that would provide increased criminal penalties for the desecration of military monuments and would create a crime for the desecration of a veteran’s military plot. His call comes in the wake of the theft of Veteran grave markers at a cemetery in New Hartford. S4884 is a bill introduced by Senator William Larkin that Senator Griffo has asked to become a cosponsor. This bill would make it a crime of cemetery desecration if a veteran’s cemetery plot was harmed in any way. Senator Griffo said that if this bill becomes law the guilty parties in the New Hartford case would face a harsher penalty. "We need to make it clear that the grave of a veteran is a sacred place that must be honored. Those would dare violate that space must be punished."S246 is a bill that has already passed the Senate. It would provide criminal penalties for individuals found guilty of desecrating a military monument. In this case, the grave markers that were stolen were military monuments. It is speculated that they may be sold as scrap metal. Senator Griffo believes that should be a criminal offense. "Those markers were put there to honor the sacrifice of individuals who gave so much to our country. We need to make that careless disregard for these monuments a crime. The State Assembly should make passing this bill a top priority."The Senate has already introduced and passed into law a bill S5791-A that makes the stealing of property from a cemetery plot, grave or burial plot the crime of cemetery desecration. The law (Chapter 353 in the Laws of 2007), was passed in the recent legislative session and would apply directly to this situation. "This crime is so heinous that we must apply as many penalties as possible to those who stoop low enough to be capable of this." Said Senator Griffo. "We need to make it clear that the State of New York does not and will not ever tolerate the theft of these important symbols of sacrifice for our freedom."
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