While it is undoubtedly true that ALL murders are hate crimes of one sort or another, crimes against homosexuals, racially motivated crimes, etc., seem to be much more common in societies where they are perceived as being common, and often almost normal. What it does when penalties for these crimes are made even more severe than for other murders is to send a message that the society has no tolerance for picking on people because of their color, sexual orientation, religion, or whatever sets them apart from the larger "norm".
Killing black people used to hardly even be considered criminal in the South, when white people did it. It was the government's increasing willingness to prosecute, and to counter KKK influence and criminalize their activities, that helped change this situation. However, beating or killing homosexuals in most of this country is still considered hardly a crime, and I believe that increasing the penalties is one thing that may help change that.
It goes without saying that none of these things makes any less horrendous when ANYONE dies violently. Still, if a deterrent works, it should be tried, I think. |
