Why I Oppose Hate Crimes Legislation

In very simple terms:

Why should a person who kills a man just to watch him die be punished less than a person who kills a man because of his skin color? The guy's dead either way.

Why should a person who knocks a man's teeth out because they favor rival sports teams be considered less guilty than a person who knocks a man's teeth out because they follow different religions?

If a person is deliberately injured, for whatever reason, why should the motivation matter?

If the injury is the same, and the intent the same, the punishment should be the same- regardless of the motivation.

I don't oppose hate crimes because they punish bigots more; I oppose them because they punish non-bigots less.

Why I Oppose Hate Crimes Legislation

In very simple terms:

Why should a person who kills a man just to watch him die be punished less than a person who kills a man because of his skin color? The guy's dead either way.

Why should a person who knocks a man's teeth out because they favor rival sports teams be considered less guilty than a person who knocks a man's teeth out because they follow different religions?

If a person is deliberately injured, for whatever reason, why should the motivation matter?

If the injury is the same, and the intent the same, the punishment should be the same- regardless of the motivation.

I don't oppose hate crimes because they punish bigots more; I oppose them because they punish non-bigots less.