My problem with "hate crimes" as a form of legislation and especially sentence enhancement is that in practice, what you said is totally ignored in favor of the publicity of the crime, and the "protected status" of the victims.
As demonstrated by a certain response on this thread.
State of mind is important in crime.
Very true. In practice, the concept of "hate crime" becomes a checklist of what "group" the (alleged) perpetrator is judged to be in versus the group of the victim, and how politically correct the crime, perp, and victim are, rather than what the actual crime is.
Crime has always been a marriage of the two.
Very true. So then why is a "hate crime" different?
no subject
My problem with "hate crimes" as a form of legislation and especially sentence enhancement is that in practice, what you said is totally ignored in favor of the publicity of the crime, and the "protected status" of the victims.
As demonstrated by a certain response on this thread.
State of mind is important in crime.
Very true. In practice, the concept of "hate crime" becomes a checklist of what "group" the (alleged) perpetrator is judged to be in versus the group of the victim, and how politically correct the crime, perp, and victim are, rather than what the actual crime is.
Crime has always been a marriage of the two.
Very true. So then why is a "hate crime" different?