Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 3:45 PM

Posted by: Justin DeCastro Posts: 661

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mary Neal <mneal000@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:34:53 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: California - re: Hate Crimes Targeting Disabled Citizens

Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 3:55 PM

Posted by: shellGVchick Posts: 1,261

This is the first I've heard about this.  Nice to see people finally taking steps to improve things.

Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 3:55 PM

Posted by: PerfectlyImperfect Posts: 872

Personally, I don't believe in hate crimes. I think it's a slippery slope of where to draw the line. It can be argued all crimes are the product of hate. I did a 2 research papers last semester in which I had to argue for the passage of hate crime laws and against them. After doing my research, I personally don't believe in laws for them. Like I said, I think it becomes difficult on where to draw the line. Yes, I know the argument they are to protect minorities. However, I think by doing that, crimes that are just as severe in nature against someone who is not of a minority(and I don't mean just race; this includes sex, disability, sexual orientation, ect.)aren't taken as seriously and sometimes are less punishable by law because you can't tack the "hate crime" charge against the attacker. To me, that isn't fair.

Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 3:56 PM

Posted by: rainey826 Posts: 3,961

 hey bud ?  you doing ok in sunny calfornia ...........  rainey xo 

Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 3:57 PM

Posted by: rainey826 Posts: 3,961

ty buddy !    

Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 7:41 PM

Posted by: Lieslmcq Posts: 2,303

PerfectlyImperfect:

Personally, I don't believe in hate crimes. I think it's a slippery slope of where to draw the line. It can be argued all crimes are the product of hate. I did a 2 research papers last semester in which I had to argue for the passage of hate crime laws and against them. After doing my research, I personally don't believe in laws for them. Like I said, I think it becomes difficult on where to draw the line. Yes, I know the argument they are to protect minorities. However, I think by doing that, crimes that are just as severe in nature against someone who is not of a minority(and I don't mean just race; this includes sex, disability, sexual orientation, ect.)aren't taken as seriously and sometimes are less punishable by law because you can't tack the "hate crime" charge against the attacker. To me, that isn't fair.

I don't think the point of the hate crime distinction is to make it a worse crime but to designate a legal category relating to motivation. Think of it this way:  we don't charge someone who has accidentally killed someone in a car accident with first degree murder unless we can establish that they planned it and intended to kill that person. It is no longer a matter of an accident so much as a premeditated act. We tend to look at intent in our laws as being more important than the outcome. And that's fair, isn't it? Does society need as much protection from someone who has a car accident as we do from a person who plans out a killing? of course not. (putting aside other factors like alcohol consumption or reckless behavior, which also changes the nature of the charge) Establishing the motive cagegory of "hate crimes" allows for people to be charged with the crime they committed. It doesn't give those crimes special status, it just recognizes them for what they are. It also doesn't devalue other crimes in any way.

Posted on: Thu, Aug 14 2008 7:52 PM

Posted by: PerfectlyImperfect Posts: 872

Liesl, I understand what you're saying. I wish I still had my research papers I wrote on this subject, because I can't remember the exact figures or anything, but I'll try and give you the gist of what I mean. Generally, hate crimes are to protect minorities. However, when I was doing research, I came across an instance in which a group of young black teens attacked a white person, using racist language. Were they charged with a hate crime? No. Did they do this because the person was white? Yes. But, if a white person attacks a black person using racist language, will they be charged with a hate crime? Yes; because they are a minority. Now how is this fair?