Seen the Light PingFReepMail me if you want on, or off this low-volume Ping list.
I have long been concerned about "hate" crimes and hate speech. The idea behind these laws is the same as the oft-misused concept of equal access. When the government begins to legislate the behavior of individuals in relationship to their thoughts, you go down a slippery slope that leads to totalitarianism. Who decides what is hate speech? Who decides what the supposed criminal is thinking when committing the crime? Where is the line drawn between hate speech and not? All of these questions are the ones that distinguish between a society of laws and a society controlled by the whims of bureaucrats.
No one is in favor of prejudiced behavior, but, using the heavy hand of government is the wrong way to eliminate this kind of behavior. We have had more success in eliminating bigotry by educating our citizenry than we ever had by using law to try to achieve the same results.