[va4me]

Hate crimes??? Isn't EVERY crime a hate crime, I am soooooo sick of every minority having their own set of rules.

A hate crime by definition is one designed to influence a group of people. If I kill a person because they are black, it's a hate crime because it's supposed to send fear to all members of the black community.

I disagree with the idea of "hate crimes", but that is what the intent of the law is all about.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Why don't they just pass a law saying that any crime that isn't against a straight white man is a hate crime, and be done with it.

[clyde asbury]

I disagree with the idea of "hate crimes"

It's interesting to follow the "logic" behind hate crimes, and it can be funny, too.

Hate is an emotion, so laws against "hate crimes" seek to make certain emotions illegal. Presumably, then, there are emotions that a person is supposed to feel when committing a crime, as well as certain emotions which is isn't OK to feel when committing these crimes.

Beyond that, there is the question of a member of the protected group committing the same crime against a person in an unprotected group.

A white person burns a cross in a black person's yard = "hate crime"

A black person burns a cross in a white person's yard = not a "hate crime"

Equal protection under the law is gone under these rules. It would be nice to see these issues discussed before laws are passed, but I'm not holding my breath.

I say if someone committs a crime then they get the punishment, and I don't care what they were feeling at the time.