"This is fast becoming a ridiculous claim. Actions and actions only trigger consequences under Hate Crimes laws"
After passage of the hate crimes law:
Murder is not a federal crime.
Murder of a black person plus hating blacks is a federal crime.
Thus, the person has committed a federal crime because he hates blacks (or hispanics, or Jew, or whatever). What he is being punished for is not MURDER, but rather hating blacks (if it had been a typical murder, without the hatred element, he would not have violated federal law).
JUST TO MAKE THINGS CLEAR: I am not saying I hate blacks, Jews, or anyone else. I am just saying that hating a particular class of people, as irrational as it may be, should not be subject to criminal prosecution.
I believe in the right of all Americans to express their opinions, and to harbor thoughts, that are totally contrary to mine and that I may find despicable. |
