I hate "hate crime" laws. (How's that for a play on words?) Seriously, I'm opposed to all so-called hate crime laws for three reasons. First, it values some lives over others, based solely upon the motivation for the attack. That's not equal protection under the law. Secondly, victims are no more or less dead or injured based upon the motivation for the attack. Finally, so-called hate crimes make motivation an element of the offense and that is even more subjective and more likely to result in speculation by a jury. (I'm also opposed to murder of a LEO being a capital offense, while murdering an non-LEO is not unless other factors are present. Again, this values certain lives more than others.)
This guy committed an aggravated assault and should be charged, convicted and sentenced accordingly. I do find it interesting that, to my knowledge, this is the first person charged under federal hate crime statues.
Chas.
FoxNew.com Article wrote:
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Former assistant U.S. attorney Fred Tecce said it appears the suspect here is a "terrible guy." But he, too, questioned the role of federal prosecutors.
"We have had a ton of these knockout cases," he said. "Part of your role as prosecutors and part of the role of the Justice Department is to send a message to the public that ... the law applies to everyone."
He added: "Why is this the first knockout case that the DOJ has decided to render an indictment on?"
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12 ... e-why-now/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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