HATE CRIMES
"The problem with defining a crime as a HATE CRIME is that it's a classic definition of a distinction without a difference. It says that if someone assaults you because he hates you for the color of your skin, it's deserving more of a punishment than if someone assualts you because he likes the color of your money." (Investor's Business Daily)
If we add sexual orientation to hate crimes, is this protecting civil liberties or establishing a national thought police?
2007-05-15 02:32:05 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
In my eyes a crime is a crime... If someone murders someone based on the color of their skin, then they should be punished for the murder and not because they are racist. We go through our life and encounter all sorts of people we don't like. I think we all have racist feelings in us, that's just natural. We as a society have gotten to wound up in "FEELINGS" everyone wants to make sure we are being as polite and understanding as possible..
2007-05-15 03:05:54 · answer #1 · answered by polonium-210 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A persons "state of mind" while committing a crime SHOULD be a consideration. Extreme hatred defines the difference between involuntary and voluntary - manslaughter is a good example. Attacking someone due to their sexual preference (or religion, skin color, etc.) requires premeditation and is an expression of hatred and intolerance. It needs to be treated as such.
Who's civil liberties are you interested in protecting - the criminal's or the victim's? Should a persons sexual orientation toward children, for example, not be an issue in a child molestation case?
Attacking someone based on a trait they cannot change (sex, skin color, religion, and , some would argue, sexual preference) is what distinguishes a "hate crime" from being simply a crime.
Many people have hatred in their hearts. The vast majority of us choose to adhere to the law and not act upon that hatred. The example given above is a poor one:
"It says that if someone assaults you because he hates you for the color of your skin, it's deserving more of a punishment than if someone assaults you because he likes the color of your money."
There is no hatred of an unchangeable trait involved in the second case, just greed.
2007-05-15 09:56:03 · answer #2 · answered by john_stolworthy 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The crime is the crime, assault, murder, etc. In ALL criminal trials, other factors are taken into account. Premeditated? Weapon used? Multiple crimes? Severity or brutality of the attack. Was the victim a police officer?
Punishment guidelines are based on those factors. Hate has been added to the list recently, but it's not categorically different.
You can think anything you want. Just don't hurt anyone with it. Simple, really.
2007-05-15 09:48:34 · answer #3 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This hate-crime legislation is a bunch of liberal nonsense, and I hate hate-crime legislation. Tucker Carlson had a debate with a homo pro-hate crimes dude, and Tucker made more sense than the other guy, (check yesterday's Tucker Carlson transcripts at MSNBC.com). We don't need this type of legislation, and I hope W. Bush does veto any of this type of legislation that reaches his desk.
This nonsense is what we get from electing liberals to Congress. Imagine how much worse it will be if Hillary Clinton becomes pres. The PC thought police will be everywhere! As Mel Gibson said in "Braveheart," Freedom!!!
to Michelle. You don't understand the concept of hate-crime legislation. This legislation adds more severe punishment to an already existing crime, such as assault and murder, if the motivation of the perp was to hurt someone because of his protected status (gay, black, jew, etc.). I don't think that minorities shoud be treated differently than others; we are all entitled by our Constitution to "Equal Protection" under our law!
2007-05-15 09:48:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yet another highly controversial issue upon which there will be varied opinions. A crime is a crime. However, I can see why a "hate crime" directed specifically toward a particular race or ethnicity would raise an eyebrow. Wasn't the holocaust a hate crime? Don't many Muslims hate infidels just because they're infidels? Don't many Jews hate Palestinians just because they're Palestinians?
2007-05-15 09:46:48 · answer #5 · answered by Hemingway 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's very frustrating when you see our Freedom of Speech being legislated "out" under the premise that it is best to be 'politically correct' over & above our individual rights.
A crime is a crime. Why catagorize it? Justice needs to be fully served to those who do the crimes, bar any "agenda" that the perpratator may have had when committing the crime.
051507 10:18
2007-05-15 11:18:29 · answer #6 · answered by YRofTexas 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How do they define if it was a random act or a hate crime. If a white man robs and beats a black man, it doesnt necessarily mean it was out of racism, but possibly out of opportunity. To me crime is crime and each crime should be treated the same.
2007-05-15 09:41:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is a bogus argument.
Why in the world would anyone seek protection for people who commit felonious assaults, murders, and other violent crimes in the name of hate? That is what you are arguing for, leniency for criminals because you don't like gay people.
Is there an introspective bone in your body? Ever look in the mirror and wonder, "have I been driven insane by my fear and hatred?"
2007-05-15 09:57:23 · answer #8 · answered by Schmorgen 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
The inability to think is a common thread within some of these answers. To think a victim gives a wit about whether you beat his head in because of hate? A white Christian beating a gay man is worse than a white man beating a white man? I get it.
2007-05-15 10:31:30 · answer #9 · answered by Matt 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. Also, it is usually impossible to prove motive beyond a reasonable doubt, leaving the decision as to whether or not it was a hate crime to jurors emotions.
2007-05-15 15:37:33 · answer #10 · answered by yupchagee 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋