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Because the question which you do not want to discuss is whether hate crime legislation deters crime... I do not know if it does... I fall into only one group that falls victim to hate crimes...
You might want to ask women why they have felt a need for the stronger enforcement of domestic violence laws or even the existence of domestic laws...

I have the feeling they may tell you it is because of their vulnerability in personal relationships...

I would be interested to know if you have a position on whether women need more protection from men or vice versa...

Other than that one group membership, I don't walk around worried about much... But after the history in this country which you and I are well aware of, I do think it is a good thing that the laws have been changed because there was a time when I was considered 3/5 of a person, there was a time when I would not have been allowed to vote, there was a time when I would have faced some very difficult barriers to housing and employment regardless of my qualifications...and there were times when my complaints of persecution and violence fell on deaf ears...

Also, I was curious if you have an opinion as to whether the extra punishment that is levied against those who kill police officers in the line of duty is warranted or is murder simply murder?...

When you talk about equal enforcement, you have to look at who is in law enforcement and understand that these are human beings who make decisions based on the law but also based on their own feelings. They have discretion to arrest or not and I don't have a major problem with that... I just think it needs to be recognized that there may have been and may still be a tendency to look the other way if the citizen being protected is not necessarily "mainstream", member of a community of a different culture (etc.)

There is also another concern... I would not want to see a gay person feel that he needs to carry a concealed weapon because he feels that persons can assault him at will and the law will do nothing or less to protect him... We may have a case one day where those persons with a lifestyle not approved by the majority of persons in this country are able to plead self defense...

Do we let those that feel persecuted and have been persecuted take the law into their own hands or do we let them know that they are as welcome in this country as anyone else?

I don't think I want to see Muslims or Jews doing the same... I don't want to see high school kids carrying guns because they feel the juvenile justice system does not protect them from other kids who are undeterred by the laws we have on the books... Even the Mormon church had to migrate west at one time to avoid religious persecution...
And though they had a well armed militia, they still faced trouble simply because of their beliefs...

I don't think it was that long ago that churches in the South, Synagogues, and Mosques were being served molotov cocktails... It was like happy hour on churches...

I have to admit that I never had in such fear of that happening while attending the first Baptist Church in Muleshoe, TX.

The Amish Communities face "Clayping" and other persecution... If you were or are a member of these communities and the law was equally enforced, your history would be a lot different...

I am no authority but I tend to believe that people that want hate crime protection are scared.... They are not scared because they want tax credits or they want a free ride... Their fear is a reaction to the unlawful acts they have faced. They simply want to be able to enjoy the freedom that the "Constitution" provides. That equal protection thing is wonderful but it is just a piece of paper... If you think that the equal protection law is going to stop skin heads from attacking immigrants or those of a certain religion, that it will deter gang bangers from jumping on some Marines and stabbing them, I will wait patiently for that to happen...

And I hope you know that it was not that long ago that
the Federal Government had to bring federal prosecutions against police and other citizens who did violence to "fellow citizens"... Where was the equal protection clause then...

As I said before, I think support for this law depends on which end of the stick you have been on...

I would not want to see a gay person feel that he needs to carry a concealed weapon because he feels that persons can assault him at will and the law will do nothing or less to protect him...

You really ought to educate yourself about the homosexual agenda, and in the archives of FR there is more information in one place than probably anywhere on the web. Just because a person practices same sex sodomy in no way gives that person any special rights, privileges, or advantages. In fact, such a person is suffering from SSAD (Same Sex Attraction Disorder), they are shortening their life spans, acquiring and spreading many diseases, some incurable, and they are more prone to molest and seduce children and young adolescents than the rest of us. So please don't add them to the victim list.

Another point - if law enforcement and the justice departments actually punished those who really break the law, there would be a great disincentive to wouldbe law breakers. First of all, a proper use of the death penalty for murderers and child molesters, swift and sure, would be a start.