Are not all crimes of violence 'hate crimes'? Is there a practical reason to creating a 'hate crime' category?

2015-10-20T16:35:15-04:00

"I believe this to be a hate crime," Zuidema said Tuesday. "It's a crime against a group of individuals, not based on something they've done, but based on who they are. This is one or perhaps two individuals – cowards – acting under the cloak of anonymity and leaving a hate message," he said. "It's targeting police officers. But it doesn't meet the definition of a hate crime in North Carolina," Zuidema noted. "Being a police officer is not included in that."
According to the FBI, a hate crime is "a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias." Congress has defined a hate crime as a "criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation." North Carolina has a hate crime enhancement statute, but it only applies to misdemeanors. The state also has an "ethnic intimidation" statute, which criminalizes the attack of another based on race, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/10/20/nc-police-chief-calls-kill-cop-save-child-vandalism-hate-crime/?intcmp=hplnws

'Kill a cop, save a child' vandalism a 'hate crime,' North Carolina police chief says

A North Carolina police chief said a disturbing message found sprayed across a mural at the town's new police headquarters should be labeled a hate crime. 

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Oct 20 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-10-20T16:47:56-04:00

I object to hate crimes laws. What a hate crimes law is saying is that the lives of other people are more important than mine or the lives of my family. Therefore hate crimes should have no place in a country that claims to believe in equality.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Oct 20 at 2015 6:24 PM

2015-10-20T18:24:46-04:00

I explained this to my teenage son. He didn't get it right away...

So a "Hate Crime" is one where the motivation of the perpetrator is proven to be hate against the victim because of race, gender, eye color, Android or iPhone, right?

So... we're going to punish a person MORE SEVERELY because of what s/he was THINKING or FEELING at the time? And how do you prove what someone was thinking? This just smells of tyranny to me. I don't care how you spell it out, you're punishing someone specifically for what they believe.

Actions are judged, NOT thoughts or beliefs. Dear God in Heaven... this is still America, isn't it?

PS: before anyone goes down the "Premeditated Murder" alley, remember that 1st Degree Murder requires proof that the perpetrator took actions before the crime to ensure that the crime was successful. Again, the ACTIONS are being judged.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 21 at 2015 3:16 AM

2015-10-21T03:16:12-04:00

Let's call it what it really is. Hate crimes themselves are biased. The FBI defines a hate crime as: "A hate crime is a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias. For the purposes of collecting statistics, Congress has defined a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.” Hate itself is not a crime—and the FBI is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties."

But, let's look at a few examples of where a crime occurred and the attacker was/was not charged with a hate crime:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-begins-investigations-into-possible-hate-crime-cases-in-st-louis/
First crime: attacker charged with a hate crime.
Second crime: attacker NOT charged with a hate crime due to "there wasn't enough evidence to prove that the attack involved racial or religious motivations..."

One obvious difference between the two crimes is that in the first one, the attacker was Caucasian and in the second one, the attacker was African American.

Do you see the difference in these examples? I for one think crap like this is a problem.

FBI begins investigations into possible hate crime cases in St. Louis

Two separate attacks, in which the suspects made references to Ferguson, Mo., are being looked at by federal law enforcement

Response by CW3 Bernard"Chief" Collier made Oct 21 at 2015 9:21 AM

2015-10-21T09:21:53-04:00

I got your political agenda. It's not to talk about and resolve but to incite and inflame for a political end. Ignorant

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Mar 3 at 2016 11:12 AM

2016-03-03T11:12:59-05:00

Hate Crime is an oft overused term, but I think such a distinction is necessary. Now as in the past, crimes that are motivated clearly by race or other discriminatory factory (sex, gender preference, religion,etc.) need to be identified for what they are, because more often than not the point to a much larger systemic problem within the community. Unless that problem is addressed these crimes will continue to occur. Hate Crime designation points out the underlying causes behind a crime and raises awareness, and therefore action against it. There are many people who want to pretend that there is not a problem with racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination in our country. They are VERY wrong, and I would point to the Trump campaign as proof that we are living in very dangerous times. We need to call a spade a spade, otherwise more people will continue to overlook things.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2016 10:52 AM

2016-06-12T10:52:46-04:00

Hate crime. What a stupid phrase.