What's a hate crime?

Question

This term, "hate crime," refers to a violent crime inspired by racially-charged hatred. As a result, offenders can be given heavier sentences for the racial aspect of the said crime. Here's my question: what kind of violent crime ISN'T "hateful"? Since when did someone commit a violent act out of love? Is this just a tactic used by minority groups to serve their own interests? Like it or not, people have the RIGHT to be racist, and until they commit a crime as a result of that racism, they can not be charged as criminals. Therefore, racial motivation should play no role in the sentencing of the convict as racism alone is not illegal, but rather, only the violent acts that may follow are such. You know where I stand at this point, now I want to hear what YOU think about these "hate crimes."

Answer 1

I Believe that when a crime is committed because of a racial difference, then of course the offenders hatred should be brought to light. And Yes, violent crimes can be committed out of "love". I'm sure you've heard about stalking. In some cases stalkers have been known to kill or attempt to kill their prey.They do it because they can't have that person, so they kill them or attempt to kill them so no one else can have them. I used to live in the Mid-South, near a Klan ridden town. It was shameful watching the havoc they wreaked on innocent people.Hate crimes have been around since the Germans tortured the Jews, it's nothing new. If you hate someone, hate them for what they have done, not for their color or nationality.

Answer 2

I have to disagree. Hate crimes as you correctly noted are basically provisions for increasing the sentencing on someone who commits a crime for racial or other reasons baed on the victim's race, religion, sexual preference, etc. True, crimes aren't committed out of love, but that is a bumper sticker type argument. The theory for having hate crime statutes is that it is easier to protect yourself against a random or economically motivated crime than a crime based on the victim's status. The victim can't stop being black or white or whatever it was that motivated the criminal to attack. This does not punish hate thoughts, and in order to be a hate crime, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant acted out of bias. Usually that requires some kind of statement by the defendant at the time of the crime. As noted in one of the other responses, hate crimes at least where I live, seem to be most often charged against blacks and Latinos for crimes against each other or against white victims.

Answer 3

You're quite right, people can think what they want about anything, racial or otherwise. Part of the punishment for a hate crime reflects society's abhorrence of prejudice against any particular group of people (religion, race, ethnic origin, political affiliation, etc.). A hate crime is seen as more dangerous to the public good than a crime against an individual. I agree with that.

Answer 4

Talk about spin rhetoric, of course all crimes are hateful. Did you ever hear of a crime committed because they loved or respected someone?
our news media at it again with a little help from stupid judges.

Answer 5

By the definition all black on white crime is also hate crime.
I agree, it's like affirmitive action.
The thing is real racist crime is rare (compared to the other "non-hate" crimes).

Answer 6

In actuality it is a crime for the thought police to enforce. You are correct in your assumptions.

Answer 7

That is when you do something to someone because of there color,religion,are sex,and it happens to be a felony.

Answer 8

You sir are absolutely right. You can't punish someone for what they think only for what they do.

Answer 9

Crimes can be committed out of love, greed, hate, envy, jealousy...all = hate, I agree. They are certainly not committed out of genuine love. However...a murder committed over racial prejudism can have a much greater impact on society as a whole. Especially if the trial goes sour. The purpose of law is to keep order to all citizens, not just the criminally minded. Racism has been the source of a huge percentage of the crimes committed throughout human history.

crimes of a prejudistic nature aren't necessarily punished more severely than another...it depends on the judge and jury. The jury always contains more than one race to create an unbiased and unanimous decision if possible. The jury is also usually made up of mostly middle class people, underpaid, and unappreciated. They don't have the patience to have grace on someone who committs a crime out of ignorance.

Tho its not necessarily punished more severly, it does deserve its own category of crime and I believe they labeled it properly...except they left the word ignorant out of it. You cannot consider the white race to be pure or superior because were are merely on one side of the same coin. Therefore....if you don't understand that, you are ignorant of an easily understandable truth.

You might be able to be prejudice without punishment in the US, however, I believe you misunderstand the heart and the intention of the word "right" and how it is used in a legal sense, and much more from a constitutional viewpoint. A word of advice: Becareful what you do and how you do it because the law wasn't made for the caring responsible person. The law is intended for people like you who carelessly hate. Justice is meant to bring equity to the mistreated. Not to further enrich fools like you. You will never be able to rid the world of the law or justice no matter how much you hate. You may not have actually broken the law but I believe you are already a criminal as we speak because you trespass against everyone who is not the same color as you. Am I supposed to give you a thumbs up because you only INDIRECTLY state your disapproval of the existance of other races by posing a question like this? Am I suppose to appreciate the fact that instead of voicing your opinion blatently you mask it with a question like this? Yes all crime is comitted out of disregard I agree with that. What I do not agree with is your fuel to pose this question. The validity of your question does not nullify nor void nor excuse the intent of heart. Merely a red herring. If you believe prejudism is right and correct, fair, and just, then voice it. Stand up for what you believe. Do not cower under a question like this. Either stand up and be proud of what you claim as truth, or shut your mouth. Nobody likes a hypocrite.

We will see who is right for history has proven that what is true will certainly outlast that which is false. Lies last for but a breath and then they are uncovered. After that they are diminished of power. Truth never loses power. Truth overwhelms the lie and disarms it of any power, then the lie is destroyed. We will see who is correct. Justice will be around far longer than you and your miniscule opinion. Only don't stand here and think that you are innocent, for through people with such natures as yours, millions upon millions of people have been ruthlessly murdered.

btw...you may not be a criminal now but if you keep spoiling yourself over ridiculous and meaningless differences you soon will be. Any emotion driven to certain extents will result in action. Ask any psychologist. Like I said...becareful what you do and how you do it. The law will be there to execute punishment to you wether you agree with its methods or not. Becareful also what you say because who is to say that someone like me won't hear you and consequently beat the S.H.I.T out of you? Slime like you require beatings to understand truth and I can very easily deliever them to ignorant pricks like you.

I'm sure you call yourself intellectual....lets see how smart you are mouthing off to someone like me or some of my friends in person. I can answer this question of yours in a way your sharp mind didn't think of. Big man over the internet aren't you? I'm sure you are nothing taller than a coward in person. Guess what? You can't control me. You can't control anything much less the direction of the world. Go ahead. Waste your life. No one visits the graves of the heartless. Only don't sit here and try to fool people into excusing your disposition by politics.

Forgive me for being very harsh with you. I find myself running out of patience dealing with people like you. My sincerest hope for you is that you finish wasting your time debating such issues in your head, change your thought process, and stop listening to your friends. In giving up attempts to control that which you cannot, you will come to experience life to a fuller degree. Inevitably, you will find something that has much greater worth to live for and to fight for than over things such as hatred which in the end, will consume nothing more than your own self. Hatred is not a cause to live your life for. Its not a cause to live half of it for. Think about it for a moment. There is no law against compassion

Answer 10

It is beating someone or someone's belonging's for what they think or belive in.