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Punish Crime, Not The Thought
IBD Editorials ^ | October 9, 2009 | INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY Staff

Posted on 10/09/2009 4:29:32 PM PDT by Kaslin

'Hate' Crimes: The House has voted to make it a federal crime to assault people because of their sexual orientation. Aside from violating the Constitution's equal-protection clause, just what does this have to do with national defense?

The House voted 281 to 146 Thursday to make it a crime to attack homosexuals and others. The measure was attached to a must-pass $680 billion defense bill. We think the amendment itself is a crime against common sense and the law.

Saying "it's a very exciting day for us here in the Capitol," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the passage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, named after a gay man murdered in Wyoming in 1998.

What Pelosi neglected to say was that Shepard's killers were each given double life sentences and have said since that money and drugs motivated their actions, not animus toward homosexuals.

Whatever their motivation, their criminal act was prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and they received the maximum punishment without hate crimes legislation.

Similarly, no hate crimes legislation was needed that same year when James Byrd, an African-American, was dragged to his death in Jasper, Texas. Byrd's murderers were quickly arrested, tried and convicted. Two were sentenced to death, and the third, to life in prison.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: 111th; 14thamendment; agenda; bhofascism; bhohomosexualagenda; bhotyranny; boehner; constitution; crime; donttreadonme; equalprotection; fourteenthamendment; gays; givemeliberty; hatecrimes; homobama; homosexualagenda; homosexuals; johnboehner; liberalfascism; matthewshepard; nancypelosi; pelosi; politicalcorrectness; sodomhusseinobama; speakerpelosi; thoughtcrime; thoughtpolice; totalitarianism; tyranny

1 posted on 10/09/2009 4:29:32 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: alrea; bareford101; BerniesFriend; blaveda; Bookwoman; Celeste732; dsc; Faux_Pas; fortunecookie; ...

2 posted on 10/09/2009 4:31:38 PM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for 0bama: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin

That’s not the PC way nowdays. Punish the ‘hate-thought’, more agressively so. Also, don’t forget that this ‘hate crime’ stuff is really only a one-way deal. The reverse is just ‘racial justice’.


3 posted on 10/09/2009 4:43:56 PM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Kaslin

Applying mind reading to criminal activity simply allows the socialists to put a political “correctness” spin on the crime, and apply unequal justice to crimes they don’t like.

I think I will go and watch “Minority Report” again.


4 posted on 10/09/2009 4:50:50 PM PDT by SpinyNorman (The ACLU empowers terrorists and criminals, weakens America, and degrades our society.)
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To: SpinyNorman

I’m wondering if these ridiculous “hate crime” laws have ever gotten to the Supreme Court??
I’d like to hear how they justify violating the “equal protection” clause.


5 posted on 10/09/2009 5:11:52 PM PDT by qrstuv
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To: Kaslin

Was there a separate vote on to attach the gay thing or did they do it in committee?


6 posted on 10/09/2009 6:21:38 PM PDT by Impy (RED=COMMUNIST, NOT REPUBLICAN | NO "INDIVIDUAL MANDATE"!!!!!!!)
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To: qrstuv
I’m wondering if these ridiculous “hate crime” laws have ever gotten to the Supreme Court??

Is that the only way to knock these zombies from congress back?

7 posted on 10/09/2009 7:44:10 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (Isn't the Golden Mean the secret to something," I parried? "Yes," Blue replied. "Mediocrity.")
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To: Kaslin

I need “extra protection” too. I think I’m a lesbian trapped in a mans body.


8 posted on 10/10/2009 4:01:52 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Yes I backed over the vampire but I swear I didn't see it in my rearview mirror.)
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To: Kaslin

Punish the hate thought. Reward the peace thought.

Imagine getting a paycheck for thinking about having a job while those other poor schmucks are still thinking about being unemployed.


9 posted on 10/10/2009 4:07:57 AM PDT by RGSpincich
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