[kevkrom]

You are right to dislike them. ACTIONS are criminal, not thoughts. Who cares WHAT thoughts caused the actions, it was the ACTION for which one should be convicted.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I'm thoroughly against the idea of "hate crimes" as a legal category. However, prosecutors should be allowed to introduce evidence of "hate bias" (or whatever you want to call it) in the trial phase in order to help establish motive and also in the sentencing phase to help establish whether or not to criminal remains a threat to others. But they can do that without having separate categories for "hate crimes" per se.

[starfish923]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- I'm thoroughly against the idea of "hate crimes" as a legal category. However, prosecutors should be allowed to introduce evidence of "hate bias" (or whatever you want to call it) in the trial phase in order to help establish motive and also in the sentencing phase to help establish whether or not to criminal remains a threat to others. But they can do that without having separate categories for "hate crimes" per se.

Well said.