No 'Hate' Required in Hate Crime.
A judge in New York has ruled evidence of "hatred" is unnecessary for a prosecutor to pursue a "hate crimes" case against three men arrested for the death of a homosexual man.
Because they allegedly thought "this is an easy way to rob someone," the three men apparently went onto a homosexual website to lure a man into meeting them, whereupon they robbed him. He then ran into the street trying to get away and was struck by a car, later dying from his injuries.
I'm all for throwing the book at these three men -- the book for premeditated murder in New York is 15 years to life and I'm inclined to vote for life. However, because the Big Apple has a Hate Crimes Act, the book ratchets up to 20 years to life.
So let me get this straight. Criminals have been looking for "easy targets" for centuries, but now the punishment for victimizing certain individuals is significantly higher. Those three men could have logged onto a knitting website and lured a little old granny out of her apartment, robbed and murdered her, and her life would be less valuable in the eyes of the law when looking at sentencing.
You can't have equal protection under the law when crimes against certain individuals are more protected.
If that isn't enough to convince you hate crimes laws are bad news, the article I read referenced a recent column by Janet Folger that listed the following cases of hate crimes enforcement:
- Madison, Wis. David Ott, a former homosexual, was arrested for a "hate crime" for sharing his testimony with a homosexual at a gas station. He faced a $10,000 fine and one year behind bars. Seven thousand dollars in legal fees later, [he] was ordered to attend re-education classes at the University of Wisconsin conducted by a lesbian.
- St. Petersburg, Fla. Five Christians including two pastors were arrested at a homosexual rally for stepping onto the public sidewalk instead staying caged in their officially designated "free speech zone."
- Elmira, N.Y. The Elmira police arrested seven Christians for praying in a public park where a homosexual festival was getting started.
- Crystal Lake, Ill. Two 16 year old girls are facing felony "hate crime" charges for the content of their flyers.
- Philadelphia, Pa. Arlene Elshinnawy, a 75-year-old grandmother of three, and Linda Beckman, a 70-year-old grandmother of 10 (along with nine others), were arrested for sharing their faith on the public sidewalk.
