Free Republic

Oregon's marvelous federal senator, Mr. Smith, is working with Ted "Chappy" Kennedy of the People's Democratic Socialist Republic of Massachusetts to enlarge the scope of "hate crime laws." It is traditional in law that the reason a killing happens has a bearing on the punishment, if any, associated with the event. The basic difference is intent, though if the intent is part of a situation involving a typical self defense, the killing is usually legal. Where the death is not a matter of self defense, long-established rules hold sway. If you kill somebody without intending to do so, and not...