[DBrow]

“How to they plan to police the public’s thoughts?”

The law only applies to people who are attackers, who do or try to attack or kill someone else.

If they use racial epithets or the like that indicate their intent, or in some other way indicate a racial motive, then this proposed law would kick in with additional mandatory penalties.

Like those guys who carjacked the two kids, killed the man, kidnapped, raped, tortured, and killed the woman- if they had said “those crackers deserved it” then this law would chime in.

This law applies to felony acts of violence against a person where the motive can be attributed to prejudice. There is no intent to monitor thought.

The hilarious part is the lengthy justification under the Commerce Clause- the feds have no jurisdiction otherwise. They have no power to interfere with the states, and no right to step into this area.

A stupid statist feelgood law that would be used by the MSM far more often than by the courts.

[SJackson]

The hilarious part is the lengthy justification under the Commerce Clause- the feds have no jurisdiction otherwise. They have no power to interfere with the states, and no right to step into this area....A stupid statist feelgood law that would be used by the MSM far more often than by the courts.

Yup, have to admit it's creative. And they spend some money, which is always a good thing.

[GrandEagle]

There is no intent to monitor thought.
Oh, but yes there is.
It is only enforceable (most of the time), after an act of violence, or (with this law - read the text) if you interfere with their business interest (protest), of financial interest.
However, lets say that my pastor teaches from Gods word about Homosexuality being a sin and some time later a parishioner goes nuts and kills a homosexual.
Take, for example, the nut that blew up the abortion clinics and killed the abortionists. Under this law (see Post#54) he could be charged with the hate crime.

Try this one on for size: The Deadly Ham Sandwich

Lets say I teach my children Gods word and they end up killing a mugger who happened to be homosexual?

So called "Hate Crimes" in general are a tool of the thought police - period.
It matters not WHY someone commits a crime, it should not be any worse of a punishment if it is committed against a protected class of citizen than it would be if it was committed against me.
If someone instigates the crime we already have conspiracy charges in the current law to prevent that.