Hate Crime Legislation Would Backfire | David Rittgers | Cato Institute: Commentary

Hate Crime Legislation Would Backfire | David Rittgers | Cato Institute: Commentary: "First, crimes motivated by racial animus, misogyny, or homophobia are already recognized as atrocities and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. No new law is needed. Second, making the ideology of the perpetrator a centerpiece of the trial doesn't deter like-minded extremists; it encourages them."

"Worse yet, the proposed legislation picks favorites among the public. Mr. Von Brunn could arguably be charged under the proposed hate-crime legislation because he targeted a Jewish museum and shot an African-American guard. Mr. Roeder's crime had the same death toll, but because there is no hate-crime protection for abortion providers he is outside the hate-crime ambit (though arguably subject to prosecution under a separate overfederalization of violence against abortion providers).

Mr. Muhammad wanted to kill an American soldier and he did, but it's not a hate crime unless he was specifically looking for a Christian, female, or gay soldier."