“What I do not understand is that, even ‘minorities’ should fear ‘thought crimes’ or fear the government trying to get into our heads.”
I steer clear of the Thought Crime angle, since thought is already under consideration, and should be, in some cases. Intent, for instance, is all inside the head, and people get tougher or lighter punishment based on it.
The real problem is that “hate” is a motive and, traditionally speaking, motive is not an element of crime. For obvious reasons, since for any one person murdered there could have been a dozen people who had wanted to do so at one point. That’s why defense attourneys always counter witnesses’ claims of hearing the defendent vow “I will kill that man!” by asking them if they’ve ever said they want to kill someone at some point in their lives.
Hate Crime legislation overturns centuries of legal tradition, and for that reason, not the Thought Crime reason, it is a travesty.
Still, I think it is a bit creepy for the government to say that a class-based murder is any worse than a murder done for hire or for revenge.
In fact, I guess to avoid the “hate crime” charge, a defendant could say, “I am not saying I killed him, but he DID 1.) steal money from me 2.) mess with my girl 3.) call me names 4.) cheat at poker -— etc.
In other words, prove that there was a different motive, besides hate -— but these libs don't seem to care about other motives, as long as “hate” existed, somehow, it is a “Hate crime” if that hate was based on identity with some protected group.
Remember how we went from, thankfully, protecting abused wives to allowing wives who murdered abusive husbands to get off the hook? Sometimes, when no REAL abuse even took place?
How long until those who “commit” these “hate crimes” can be bumped off, and their lives will be judges less valuable, since, after all, these were “haters” were they not?
When you make some lives more valuable than others, simple logic says that the value of those lives, not protected to the same extent, have DECLINED in value.
Prove you killed a “hate criminal” and you might get a slap on the wrist!