"How would you rank this episode on the hate crime scale"
This is a perfect example of a situation where the motive isn't clear, and it's one of the reasons why hate crime laws are problematic. You didn't give enough information to infer any motive other than robbery.
If the schoolteacher had been shot because of his race, for instance, it would qualify. About the only way that could be determined would be if there were witnesses to threats against him that made reference to his race.
It is definitely possible for a black person to commit a hate crime against a white person, or a gay person to commit a hate crime against a straight person. If memory serves correctly, there was a D.C. bar that was recently charged for discriminating against straight patrons (a different, but related issue).
This is a perfect example of a situation where the motive isn't clear, and it's one of the reasons why hate crime laws are problematic. You didn't give enough information to infer any motive other than robbery.
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You write my thoughts exactly. Neither should any motive be inferred when the races are reversed - but we both know that does not happen.
I am totally opposed to "hate" crime legislation.
PS: I believe those boys shot the teacher because he sounded like a teacher, not because he was white and they were black. The shooter told the cops that he shot the man because he dissed him.
This is a perfect example of a situation where the motive isn't clear, and it's one of the reasons why hate crime laws are problematic. You didn't give enough information to infer any motive other than robbery.
%%%%%
You write my thoughts exactly. Neither should any motive be inferred when the races are reversed - but we both know that does not happen.
I am totally opposed to "hate" crime legislation.
PS: I believe those boys shot the teacher because he sounded like a teacher, not because he was white and they were black. The shooter told the cops that he shot the man because he dissed him.