STORM2K

if we start down this road, what ohter thoughts will the govt be able to prosecute people for?





FEDERAL "HATE CRIMES" LEGISLATION IS ON THE WAY

Now we have Republican Senator Orin Hatch joining with Teddy Kennedy in pushing yet another version of a federal hate crimes bill. This bill would allow federal prosecution for any crime motivated by prejudice based things like race, ethnicity and religion, but also on gender, sexual orientation or disability of the victim.

Come on, folks. Let's call this what it is. It's "thought crimes" legislation, not "hate crimes." It allows for the federal government to step in and prosecute someone for what they were thinking when they committed a crime. Let's say this crime became law. A white person commits a crime against a black person. The white person is prosecuted in a state court and is acquitted by a jury. Civil rights warlords would then be in a position to pressure the local federal prosecutor to bring a federal hate crimes charge against the white person. The federal government could then step in and prosecute the white person not for what that person did to his victim, but because of what that person may have been thinking when he did it.

There was a trial in Atlanta recently of a group of particularly noxious young whites who attacked a group of blacks in an area known as Little Five Points. The whites were yelling racial epithets. These whites were convicted and sentenced to jail. Some local race warlords immediately started screaming to high heaven because these idiot kids didn't receive 20-year sentences. If this federal law were in place the race warlords would be able to pressure the feds to bring the federal hate crimes charges to bear. Maybe they could get their precious 20-year sentences after all.

Another scenario. I'm waking down the street with a black friend. A gang of white skinheads comes up and pounds the stew out of both of us. The skinheads are charged with assault, tried, convicted and sentenced to jail. Then along comes the federal government to file hate crime charges against the skinheads. They are going to be charged with an extra crime because they attacked the black guy. The federal government will view the assault on my black friend as one worthy of federal prosecution ... simply because of what they feel skinheads were thinking at the time. The assault on me? Not worthy of federal attention. Tell me, is the law treating me equally in this scenario? Can you honestly say that I'm getting equal treatment?

Hate may be ugly, but it is not illegal. In a free society you should be free to engage the negative emotion of hate as you see fit. You cannot legislate loving or liking someone. Thought processes should not be crime. Actions should be crimes. This federal hate crime bill, as all hate crime bills, is a bad idea.

rainstorm wrote:Hate may be ugly, but it is not illegal. In a free society you should be free to engage the negative emotion of hate as you see fit. You cannot legislate loving or liking someone. Thought processes should not be crime. Actions should be crimes. This federal hate crime bill, as all hate crime bills, is a bad idea.

Sadly, I have to agree with that. Doesn't mean that I will tolerate hatred though...

Same here OtherHD. It kind of reminds me of a new law passed here in NJ that makes it a crime to drive if you haven't had sleep after a certain period of time. It was pushed for by a woman who lost her daughter in a car accident because the other driver fell asleep at the wheel. First of allm how is this going to be monitored? Secondly, the punishment should fit the crime. A crime is a crime no matter how you slice it or dice it. all of these other laws are being created to try and at least prevent a person from even considering doing whatever it is that is now banned. However, I think that if people were truly held accountable for their actions to begin with and are made to pay for there crimes, legislation like this shouldn't be necessary.

Senator Kennedy is a joke. He comitted the crime of manslaughter by driving drunk and wrecking his car on a bridge killing the woman. He NEVER paid for his crime.

Lindaloo wrote:Senator Kennedy is a joke. He comitted the crime of manslaughter by driving drunk and wrecking his car on a bridge killing the woman. He NEVER paid for his crime.

BINGO! I agree with this 10000000000000000000000000000000000000%.

rainstorm wrote:if we start down this road, what ohter thoughts will the govt be able to prosecute people for?

FEDERAL "HATE CRIMES" LEGISLATION IS ON THE WAY

Now we have Republican Senator Orin Hatch joining with Teddy Kennedy in pushing yet another version of a federal hate crimes bill. This bill would allow federal prosecution for any crime motivated by prejudice based things like race, ethnicity and religion, but also on gender, sexual orientation or disability of the victim.

Come on, folks. Let's call this what it is. It's "thought crimes" legislation, not "hate crimes." It allows for the federal government to step in and prosecute someone for what they were thinking when they committed a crime. Let's say this crime became law. A white person commits a crime against a black person. The white person is prosecuted in a state court and is acquitted by a jury. Civil rights warlords would then be in a position to pressure the local federal prosecutor to bring a federal hate crimes charge against the white person. The federal government could then step in and prosecute the white person not for what that person did to his victim, but because of what that person may have been thinking when he did it.

There was a trial in Atlanta recently of a group of particularly noxious young whites who attacked a group of blacks in an area known as Little Five Points. The whites were yelling racial epithets. These whites were convicted and sentenced to jail. Some local race warlords immediately started screaming to high heaven because these idiot kids didn't receive 20-year sentences. If this federal law were in place the race warlords would be able to pressure the feds to bring the federal hate crimes charges to bear. Maybe they could get their precious 20-year sentences after all.

Another scenario. I'm waking down the street with a black friend. A gang of white skinheads comes up and pounds the stew out of both of us. The skinheads are charged with assault, tried, convicted and sentenced to jail. Then along comes the federal government to file hate crime charges against the skinheads. They are going to be charged with an extra crime because they attacked the black guy. The federal government will view the assault on my black friend as one worthy of federal prosecution ... simply because of what they feel skinheads were thinking at the time. The assault on me? Not worthy of federal attention. Tell me, is the law treating me equally in this scenario? Can you honestly say that I'm getting equal treatment?

Hate may be ugly, but it is not illegal. In a free society you should be free to engage the negative emotion of hate as you see fit. You cannot legislate loving or liking someone. Thought processes should not be crime. Actions should be crimes. This federal hate crime bill, as all hate crime bills, is a bad idea.

Ummm....

Aren't ALL violents crimes, hate crimes????

I did a report on "Chappaquiddick" (sp?) as an assignment for high school Government class one year. Poor Mary Jo Kopechne drowned while Ted Kennedy went and tried to cover his tracks.

Eric

It most certainly is SF!! ALL violent crimes should be considered HATE crimes.

Senator Kennedy is a joke. He comitted the crime of manslaughter by driving drunk and wrecking his car on a bridge killing the woman. He NEVER paid for his crime.

I agree 100% Lindaloo... if anyone of us had done that we probably still would be serving our time in jail

Mike

Skywatch_NC wrote:I did a report on "Chappaquiddick" (sp?) as an assignment for high school Government class one year. Poor Mary Jo Kopechne drowned while Ted Kennedy went and tried to cover his tracks.

Eric

BINGO!! ALOT of violence in the Kennedy clan that has gone unpunished. Except for the recent Kennedy tried for murder after 25 years?!! Finally some justice.

Lindaloo wrote:It most certainly is SF!! ALL violent crimes should be considered HATE crimes.

My thoughts exactly as well!

Lindaloo wrote:

Skywatch_NC wrote:I did a report on "Chappaquiddick" (sp?) as an assignment for high school Government class one year. Poor Mary Jo Kopechne drowned while Ted Kennedy went and tried to cover his tracks.

Eric

BINGO!! ALOT of violence in the Kennedy clan that has gone unpunished. Except for the recent Kennedy tried for murder after 25 years?!! Finally some justice.

Let's not forget ...

1) William Kennedy Smith (Rape)
2) Michael Kennedy? (statutory rape of a 14 year old babysitter)

If there's anything to learn from the Kennedy clan, it is that money and power DO corrupt absolutely...until the perps are caught (and that goes for the right-wing as well).

If there's anything to learn from the Kennedy clan, it is that money and power DO corrupt absolutely...until the perps are caught (and that goes for the right-wing as well).

Street.. isn't that the truth:):).

rainstorm wrote:if we start down this road, what ohter thoughts will the govt be able to prosecute people for?





FEDERAL "HATE CRIMES" LEGISLATION IS ON THE WAY

Now we have Republican Senator Orin Hatch joining with Teddy Kennedy in pushing yet another version of a federal hate crimes bill. This bill would allow federal prosecution for any crime motivated by prejudice based things like race, ethnicity and religion, but also on gender, sexual orientation or disability of the victim.

Come on, folks. Let's call this what it is. It's "thought crimes" legislation, not "hate crimes." It allows for the federal government to step in and prosecute someone for what they were thinking when they committed a crime. Let's say this crime became law. A white person commits a crime against a black person. The white person is prosecuted in a state court and is acquitted by a jury. Civil rights warlords would then be in a position to pressure the local federal prosecutor to bring a federal hate crimes charge against the white person. The federal government could then step in and prosecute the white person not for what that person did to his victim, but because of what that person may have been thinking when he did it.

There was a trial in Atlanta recently of a group of particularly noxious young whites who attacked a group of blacks in an area known as Little Five Points. The whites were yelling racial epithets. These whites were convicted and sentenced to jail. Some local race warlords immediately started screaming to high heaven because these idiot kids didn't receive 20-year sentences. If this federal law were in place the race warlords would be able to pressure the feds to bring the federal hate crimes charges to bear. Maybe they could get their precious 20-year sentences after all.

Another scenario. I'm waking down the street with a black friend. A gang of white skinheads comes up and pounds the stew out of both of us. The skinheads are charged with assault, tried, convicted and sentenced to jail. Then along comes the federal government to file hate crime charges against the skinheads. They are going to be charged with an extra crime because they attacked the black guy. The federal government will view the assault on my black friend as one worthy of federal prosecution ... simply because of what they feel skinheads were thinking at the time. The assault on me? Not worthy of federal attention. Tell me, is the law treating me equally in this scenario? Can you honestly say that I'm getting equal treatment?

Hate may be ugly, but it is not illegal. In a free society you should be free to engage the negative emotion of hate as you see fit. You cannot legislate loving or liking someone. Thought processes should not be crime. Actions should be crimes. This federal hate crime bill, as all hate crime bills, is a bad idea.

I agree as long as your hate doesn't harm anyone else!!!!!!!

i agree with all of you. emotions should not be a crime. actions should be a crime. when the 1st person is prosecuted for their "thoughts", where will it end? lets face it, we have all thought about doing something illegal, we are humans afterall.
as far as kennedy is concerned, i have always felt he was drunk, and waited to sober up beofre he reported the accident. all i can say is the people of massachusettes have VERY low standards to vote for him as thier senator.

If I beat the crap out of a Muslim terrorist with explosives strapped to his body at the mall during the Christmas shopping rush because I HATE extremist Muslim terrorist scum, I don't think I should be punished any more severely than if I forgot to rewind the video before returning it to Blockbuster.

interesting!! you could be a hero for stopping a bombing, but a criminal for hating terrorists!!

Okay guys...I have this crazy idea. Enforce the laws we already have! What do you think? Should I get a lesser sentance because I didn't hate the guy I killed?

i agree jara. hate is a motive for a crime. hate is not a crime in itself. in criminal trials motive does not even have to be presented by the prosecution. a law like this makes me think we are living in a communist country. this is the first step toward the govt telling us what we can think.