Should political ideology/political party be added to hate crime laws? (poll, bias)

[afoigrokerkok]

The thread about adding sexual orientation to hate crime laws made me think...many people in the future may begin committing these "hate crimes" against those who are liberal or conservative depending on their personal ideology. Some of the hostility shown on this forum is a perfect example of what seems to be the case in our country.

I'm talking about crimes that may be against one person, but that are meant to make a statement to the entire group.

EDIT: the poll answer choices should say "only if the laws ONLY protect...." for both of those choices. It'd be great if a mod would edit it....thanks.

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

This is tough for me, but I voted to eliminate all hate crime laws. The justification for hate crime laws by the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist was this:

"this conduct is thought to inflict greater individual and societal harm.... bias-motivated crimes are more likely to provoke retaliatory crimes, inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and incite community unrest."

The problem I have is that this is similar to the argument that some moralists use to justify outlawing "obscene" materials, such as sexually-explicit movies ("porn"). It comes down to a desire to criminalize thoughts and emotions, and the belief - mistaken, in my opinion - that thoughts and emotions should be controlled by the government.

[idahogie]

Is there some evidence that people are being assaulted for their politics (besides conservatives faking attacks so they can blame liberals)?

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by idahogie

Is there some evidence that people are being assaulted for their politics (besides conservatives faking attacks so they can blame liberals)?

I think his point is that any group can claim "victim status" if they want to.

[euromutt]

Wow i can't believe that most of us agree on this, but yeah all "hate" crime laws need to be abolished.

[newtoli]

You choose your political party.

You cannot choose the color of your skin, your gender, or your sexual preference.

[Canerican]

Hate crimes legislation has been used in Europe to stop Christians from preaching in their own churches. Make no mistake that that is what they want to do here. The goal of hate crime legislation is to destroy Christianity and social Conservatism.

You want to read about what could happen if hate crime legislation get strengthened any? This would be a good start, he was imprisoned for reading the Bible IN WESTERN EUROPE.

If you are any denomination of Christian, and you practice your faith, you are not a hateful person, yet, the government wants to say you are in order to criminalize the Christian and Hebrew faiths.

[afoigrokerkok]

Wow...I am shocked that so many agree that the laws need to be abolished completely.

[afoigrokerkok]

Originally Posted by idahogie

Is there some evidence that people are being assaulted for their politics (besides conservatives faking attacks so they can blame liberals)?

This is a perfect example of the hostility. We're all Americans, we're all humans, why do we have to classify ourselves so obsessively?

[plannine]

It's a thin line between opinion and hate. But there is a difference.

But a crime is still a crime.


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Upper classes are a nation's past, the middle class is the future - Ayn Rand