What are your thoughts on this. Please back up your arguments with some information or facts. Also, please do not turn this into some racist thing.
2007-05-07 13:02:38 · 16 answers · asked by Correctlinguistics 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
No... crimes should be punished for the crime, not for any motivation behind it. Punishment should be consistent and the laws that are already written should be upheld.
In George Orwell's classic novel 1984, the government Thought Police constantly spies on citizens to make sure they are not thinking rebellious thoughts. Thought crimes are severely punished by Big Brother.
1984 was intended as a warning against totalitarian governments that enslave and control their citizens. Never have we needed this warning more urgently than now, because America's Thought Police are knocking on your door.
Last week the House Judiciary Committee, egged on by radical homosexual groups, passed what can only be called a Thought Crimes bill. It's called the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. But this bill is not about hate. It's not even about crime. It's about outlawing peaceful speech—speech that asserts that homosexual behavior is morally wrong.
2007-05-07 13:10:09 · answer #1 · answered by bwlobo 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No. Because the crime that has been committed is already a crime. When you punish someone additionally because the crime is racially motivated, you have then created a thought crime. You have punished someone for what they think. I do believe under the First Amendment, citizens are protected from the Government abridging the freedom of speech. Seems like thinking racist thoughts would fall under that protection just like saying racist thoughts would.
Secondly, with hate crimes, you have now made it harder to make a prosecution stick. Now you not only have to prove that the person is guilty of the real crime, you are arguing guilt for the hate crime as well. This opens up a whole new set of technicalities for later appeal.
2007-05-07 20:16:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Extra punishment for a racial motivation creates a form of thought crime. I don't think we should go around punishing people for their thoughts.
However, criminals should be punished based on how violent their crimes are. That's really what we are concerned about, isn't it? It's the violent nature of many hate crimes that makes them so disturbing.
2007-05-07 20:19:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Laws that promote a "Sacred Cow" status of one sex or race over another fail to support and defend all. A crime is a crime is a crime. The better question should be regarding punishment over rehabilitation. If Lady Justice is supposed to be so blind, then why does race suddenly become an issue? She can't see the color of one's skin. Can she?
2007-05-07 20:22:13 · answer #4 · answered by Doc 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. I do not want the justice system Jim Crowed again. Let it remain a mitigating factor in sentencing. Hate crimes laws are not applied evenly. Creating special groups for protection will Jim Crow the law. Equal protection under the law should not be abridged under any circumstances.
2007-05-07 20:25:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No...existing laws on the books cover the punishment for crimes against others and race or sexual preference should not come into play in the sentencing. How do you prove what is actually in a persons mind when he decides to commit a crime against someone or something.
2007-05-07 20:11:32 · answer #6 · answered by dr_methanegasman 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't know about extra punishment, but hate crimes are more effectively enforcement, charge, tried, and punish.
2007-05-07 20:18:09 · answer #7 · answered by furrryyy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hate crimes, while deplorable, amount to criminalizing a person's thoughts.
That is so broken!
I really don't want big brother legislating ***thoughts***
What is next? If you make love to your spouse but you are actually fantasizing about a movie star - uh oh - adultery - arrest him / her!
2007-05-07 20:21:02 · answer #8 · answered by bossbackocd 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm afraid you turned it into a racist thing, but I'll do my best.
If a white man kills a black man, he shouldn't be punished anymore harshly than a white man who kills a white man, or that would be considered discrimination.
Vice versa should follow these thoughts.
2007-05-07 20:23:00 · answer #9 · answered by itsmyitch 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, all crimes should be punished the same.
2007-05-07 20:11:04 · answer #10 · answered by Billy 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋