Quote:
Originally Posted by dksuddeth
so it's simple to think that someone who has a hatred for (insert special group here) is going to be deterred from committing murder because he'll get double life instead of just life?  |
In the incredibly specific and rare case? Possibly not. Under nearly all other cases? Yes, absolutely.
Hate crimes legislation is the best we can do without actively damaging the First Amendment. It'd be very easy to go after gay-hating religious leaders for indirectly inciting their "flock" to violence, but if we do that we're violating their right to free speech and to have religious beliefs. All we can do is punish the guilty and use our own free speech to call out such leaders. It's the same with bigotry toward a different race, gender, or creed.