re: #10 Yashmak

If you’re going to have “hate crimes” laws, it’s nice to include gender preference…but “hate crimes” laws in general have always struck me as just a short step removed from “thought crimes”.

it’s not close to that.

If you think gay men are “gross” — not a crime
If you tell a homosexual joke to friends — not a crime
If you announce over a loud speaker “gays are gross” — not a crime
If you buy advertisement in a newspaper that says “gays are gross” — not a crime
If you preach in your church “god hates fags” — not a crime.

If you kick some gay-man’s ass while screaming “rot in hell, fag” — serious crime, extra penalty
Kick a gay-man’s ass because you’re a drunk fool that was gonna punch the next guy you say, anyway — serious crime, but not a hate crime.
If you spray paint “god hates fags” on wall that you don’t own — serious crime, extra penalty.

The word “intent” may seem like this is about a person’s thoughts — but really it is about what crime they’ve committed and what can be discerned from their actions as to why they did it.

This is a good extension to a law that, by and large, has been used correctly to reduce crimes against individuals that have historically received the brunt of aggression for no other reason than they exist.