TRENTON, N.J. (PIX11) — In the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, Republican New Jersey State Senator Doug Steinhardt announced his intention to draft a bill to classify political violence as a hate crime.

The bill is being co-sponsored by Democratic State Senator Brian Stack.

"I think that our First Amendment rights and our freedom of speech are so integral to our constitutional republic that there need to be consequences and we need to stand by those consequences," said Steinhardt (R-NJ 23rd District).

"It's not limited to elected officials or candidates for office. Unfortunately, the person standing on the corner waving the American flag or waving a Pride flag is just as susceptible to the same kind of political violence."

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