The problem with Hate Crime laws

They may make you feel good, but have some nasty side effects. [Link]

Laws that increase penalties for "hate crimes" are unnecessary and ill-conceived. I've argued against them since 2000. Rather than quote myself again, I'll quote TChris: [More...]

Hate crimes laws come dangerously close to punishing thought, and freedom of thought is the foundation for all other freedoms. Change the civil laws if need be and make sure that police investigate and prosecutors charge crimes appropriately -- with financial assistance from the feds if need be. But there's no need for the Feds to get further involved in prosecuting state crimes and there's no need for increased penalties, especially when they are based on one's thought processes.

The bill is called The Matthew Shephard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. What happened to the defendants who murdered Matthew Shepard? One pleaded guilty and got life in prison without the possibility of parole -- no hate crime law needed.

We get a slippery slope that changes from being about objective acts, assault, vandalism, etc. and move to subjective evaluation. Did the victim feel this was a hate crime? If someone is a racist, or a homophobe, or an anti Semite, charging them with a crime is not a good solution.