Hate crime legislation... good or bad?

[SEGrether]

At first glance, hate crime legislation (especially when it includes the LGBT community) seems like a step in the right direction. Finally, the federal government can step in when violent crimes are commited against minorities.

But is that really the place of the federal government? The federal government has no jurisdiction over most felonies (inluding murder, etc). Furthermore, why should gays or blacks or women or obese or handicaped people be held in higher standing in the law than someone who has none of these associations?

Here's an interesting article from one of my favorite groups:

http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31292.html

[Zerbie]

Hate crimes bills are not about giving "special" groups "higher standing."

They are about enforcement - because the groups in question have a long continuing history of NOT having crimes against them enforced. This may be the ONLY way of acheiving justice. The argument about "higher standing" is a bullshit argument because it denies the reality that these populations are so utterly marginalized under the law that they have no OTHER means of recourse.

You could have read any number of existing threads where this has been discussed to death. Do a forum search and you will find this already discussed in endless detail.

[BrentRichards]

There are a lot of folks on indegay that I like ... but I don't agree with this particular article. Arguing that hate crimes laws are "redundant" assumes equal treatment for all under law, which we don't currently have. It also fails to recognize that hate crimes statutes seek to address the injury done to a whole community, not just an individual.

[Progo35]

I'm with BR and Z on this-esp. since it doesn't seem that the states are doing a crap about this kind of stuff, against gays OR handicapped people (esp. handicapped people, a minority not even MENTIONED in this article: although, it did come from a gay advocacy website, so maybe that's why). Anyway, I REALLY hope the legislation passes. It could help SO much-at least in principle.

[antonyh]

At first glance, hate crime legislation (especially when it includes the LGBT community) seems like a step in the right direction. Finally, the federal government can step in when violent crimes are commited against minorities.

But is that really the place of the federal government? The federal government has no jurisdiction over most felonies (inluding murder, etc). Furthermore, why should gays or blacks or women or obese or handicaped people be held in higher standing in the law than someone who has none of these associations?

Here's an interesting article from one of my favorite groups:

http://www.indegayforum.org/news/show/31292.html

You have good, honest questions. I want to refer you to Frederick M. Lawrence's testimony before the House on your very questions.

http://www.hatecrimesbill.org/hate_crimes_law.html