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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

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To: Ilaine who wrote (125736)7/17/2005 6:03:20 PM
From: Thomas A Watson  Read Replies (1) of 793688
 
Cobaltblue living in another Myth!

Myth: Hate Crimes Laws are Unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously rejected a First Amendment challenge to the constitutionality of hate crimes laws. A defendant's motive for committing a crime has traditionally been an important factor in sentencing, wrote Chief Justice Rehnquist in Wisconsin v. Mitchell, 508 U.S 476 (1993).

The Attorneys General in several states with hate crimes laws have argued in their amicus brief to the court that bias-inspired crime is more likely to provoke retaliatory crimes, inflict emotional harms on its victims, and incite community unrest. That justification for penalty enhancement is appropriate and long standing, held the Chief Justice, citing Blackstone, who wrote that those crimes "which are the most destructive of the public safety and happiness" should be most severely punished.

equalitymaryland.org
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