http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/12/woman.tortured/index.html?eref=rss_topstories#cnnSTCText
I could be wrong, but the suspects look like tweekers to me. Meth knows no racial boundaries, so I’m not sure why the question of “Hate Crime” would come up. The victim’s mother said that her daughter has a history of being gone for days on end – I’m guessing that she was / is a tweeker too.
Do you think race was the motivating factor in this case?
2007-09-13 01:44:31 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Before anyone says it; I think drug abuse & racial issues have everything to do with politics.
2007-09-13 01:46:00 · update #1
It is a bit of both. Regardless of whether or not you think she's a "tweeker", no one deserves to be treated this way.
Would it make a difference if she was someone who didn't do drugs and this happened? Drugs or not, she's still a human being.
2007-09-13 01:51:19 · answer #1 · answered by KD 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reason why "hate crime" would be discussed in this case was because the people arrested used racial slurs... also, these people might have a pattern of this (this is speculation but there are reports that they all have prior arrests and the authorities knew them).
I agree that this sounds like meth or amphetamine related. It is too bizarre for the normal type of crime (especially from a group) but the group dynamic would imply that this MIGHT be racially motivated.
The other thing is that this was torture... they purposefully kept this woman alive to do further criminal acts to and had nothing to gain or profit... they were just getting their jollies off. Which again implies a hate crime.
But a huge reason why you try to convict a person with hate crime is simply because you can convict him to a lengthier sentence. I won't lose any sleep over this if they make a argument for hate crime. Sometimes I think the prosecution stretches for hate crime charges (which is an abuse in my opinion) but I think on the face of it that this would warrant a hate crime.
BTW, this group can have more than one motivation for this crime.... and race can be one of them. It doesn't even have to be the prime motivation but if there is a semblence of racism then it is warranted undr the law.
2007-09-13 09:01:26 · answer #2 · answered by cattledog 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just a bunch of meth heads who went way way way to far. The only reason they didn't go for a "hate crime" charge is because state law carried stricter sentencing then "hate crime" charges.
I think the motivating factor was small nothing town rampant drug use and the paranoia that is fed by way to much drug use.
2007-09-13 09:21:18 · answer #3 · answered by Stephanie is awesome!! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't see how it could be a hate crime. Bobby Brewster (who is white) was romantically involved with Megan Williams (who is black). It appears that the biggest factor is drugs. People do crazy things while on drugs. The fact that they used racial slurs doesn't really mean much since these words are used regularly by people of all races, especially by rappers and comedians.
2007-09-13 09:06:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Racial motivation doesn't matter to me. Racial reasons for committing such crime is no worse than any other reasons.
But this type of crime calls out for the death penalty, IMO. There is no point, no restitution, no benefit to society, no possible redemption or salvation for people who would do such things. Like mad dogs, they need to simply be eliminated.
2007-09-13 08:53:54 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They did repeatedly call the victim the "N word", so it could be racially motivated, making it a hate crime.
2007-09-13 08:53:51 · answer #6 · answered by guess 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CNN had a longer article about the same story in which the reported on things that the assailants said to the victim. Something along the lines of "This is what n*****s get". According to law I think it is a hate crime. I personally do not believe in "hate crimes" as all crimes are hate crimes and the government should not legislate what people are thinking.
2007-09-13 08:53:20 · answer #7 · answered by BobbyDrake 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Most likely not. But prepare for a lecture from the "thought crime" cons who have been asleep during the Craig scandal.
2007-09-13 09:04:16 · answer #8 · answered by Holy Cow! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely a hate crime. What the heck kind of drugs would make any human being do those atrocious acts? I hope the six criminals burn in hell.
2007-09-13 08:53:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe in hate crimes. If it is a crime, it is a crime. It's stupid to prosecute based on what someone thought at the time. Let's call it what it really is. A thought crime. Thanks George Orwell.
2007-09-13 09:16:13 · answer #10 · answered by Poke_the_Bear 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋