Posted on 01/28/2005 3:18:46 AM PST by kattracks
CONCORD, N.H. -- A group of lawmakers is pushing to eliminate New Hampshire's hate crime laws, claiming the state is punishing people for unpopular beliefs. People spoke out on both sides of the issue at a legislative hearing Thursday."With the introduction of hate crime laws, the government has entered the realm of prosecutions based on attitudes and belief," Rep. Robert Giuda, R-Warren said.
"Everyone -- no matter what race, creed, sexual orientation or background -- is equal," said Rep. Elbert Bicknell, R-Deerfield, a former police officer who said hate crime laws are not necessary.
Dozens spoke against the proposal. Glinda Allen of Hooksett said the bill ignores the reality of her world, in which she suffers racial slurs and bigotry.
"There are groups of people who hate me," said Allen, who is black. "Some love me, but there are people who hate me simply because of the color of my skin," she said.
Adam Solender of the Jewish Federation of Greater Manchester said hate crime laws are necessary because the motivations behind such crimes should lead to greater sentences.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Letter to the Editors, Washington Times, circa fall, 1998:
In the waning hours of the 105th Congress, quiet efforts to pass controversial legislation are under way.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act... cites violence based on sexual orientation as a Hate Crime.
Hate Crimes have commonly been racially motivated. Only in Canada has sexual orientation been included in anti-hate and human rights legislation. The Canadian law does not focus exclusively on physical violence-- it includes all forms of communication as well.
...As a Canadian living in the United States, I fear for your freedom, mainly because you take it for granted.
If my words were published in a Canadian newspaper... I would be charged with inciting hate under the criminal code.
Freedom of speech no longer exists in Canada-- I could not state that AIDS is largely found within the homosexual community, nor quote statistics to back up my assertion.
My opinion would make me a criminal. Since "tolerance" has been redefined... only Political Correctness is tolerated...
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act is a signifigant foot in the door for homosexual rights lobbyists-- it validates the entire... movement as an endangered group in need of special legislative protection.
Violence against any person is already illegal, no matter what the motive.
I find it offensive that violence is noteworthy only when the victim ( is)... a member of some political action group.
Susan Mayhew
Herndon, Virginia
There are groups of people who hate me also (mostly Democrats & my ex-wife & ex-dog)but I can live without their hatred being declared a hate crime.
I will PRAY that this rational act is successful.For the
sake of New Hampshire-- and the nation.How odd that lawmakers might now push rational thought.
Prayers for the successful passage of this legislation and hope that other states will take notice and follow suit.
No kidding. I hate people with rings in their lips too. So what. Is that a religion?
And I hate people like Glinda Allen too, who happens to be black. We need more protection from progressive politics.
I think Bill character is on to something.
What about the fact that the law recognizes distinctions in deliberate vs. inadvertent acts, such as for murder vs. manslaughter, and provides a stiffer penalty for deliberate crimes?
Isn't that a form of punishing someone for their state of mind when they commit the crime?
This reminds me of the story about the man who spent thousands of dollars curing his halitosis, only to discover that no one liked him.
If hate crime laws are repealed, isn't that a little hateful?
Well then, it's over. If the ACLU said it was a bad idea then lets not waste any more time discussing it. I wonder what Al Gore thinks about this?
So, people hate me because I'm a white male.
Still, Little Precious wants a law???
Criminalizing hate and taxing corporations are both losers.
The charge of manslaughter or first degree murder is determined by intent but not dependent on a person's skin color or religion.
What's objectionable about hate crimes is that certain groups are elevated to a special status. This, in my opinion, is a gross violation of the 14th amendment. I see no difference between the murder of a white or black man. They are both equally important as human beings and should be treated equally under law.
Hate crimes are nothing more than a tool for insipid prosecuters to strut before gullible liberal voters. When I see the words "hate crime" it recalls the days of Nazi Germany where crimes against certain groups were punished more severely.
In the same respect that a deliberate crime is punished more severely than an inadvertent crime, these laws establish that a deliberate crime motivated by bias is a more serious crime than one motivated by ordinary considerations.
Should white supremacist who pummels a black person while screaming racial epithets serve exactly the same prison sentence as the victor in a bar brawl, for example?
That's the underlying question.
Why? Murder is murder and vandalism is vandalism. Why are some victims of more value than others? Why should a murder be less heinous because the murderer has a grudge against a specific individual rather than against a class of people of which the victim is a representative?
"Hate crimes" laws are stupid. If racism, etc., is part of the motive for committing a crime, then the prosecution can use that as the "motive" part of their case, and the judge should take it into account when applying a sentence (in the realm of: was this just a stupid impulsive thing vs. premeditated and likely to do it again if unchecked), but mandatory extra punsihment based on a "thought crime"? I don't think so...
Hate crimes laws have NOTHING to do with hate and everything to do with silencing Christians who are hated.
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