Charging him with a felony hate crime is (IMO) designed to drive the family into bankruptcy vis a vis having to defend him in court and likely drive them out of Naperville.
I live in the area. I know what I'm talking about and you all here on FR aren't getting the whole story through this Reason Mag article.
The young man that was targeted in the CL ad has been harassed and bullied at school, mildly physically assaulted at school by several of the perp's friends and the family home was vandalized. These are things that aren't being reported in the national media or this article.
None of this makes charging the perp with a felony hate crime right (IMO) it does mean anyone who acts out because of what this stupid perp did should also be held accountable.
Felony hate crime laws = thought crimes. I'm against legally punishing people for what they think.
I am for punishing people for what they actually do as I think we all are.
We agree. What happened to his family is not right.
I’m just concerned that, if another event like this happens (just the posting on Craigslist, not the other stuff), that charging w/ hate crime is using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.