An 18 y-o idiot will be appearing in Court Monday.
Police have asked the Solicitor General (equivalent to A-G) for permission to lay "hate crime" charges.
I hope that they do. A maximum term of 20 years (probable actually only 3 years) will serve better than the usual fines and PD that apply for vandalism and graffitti charges.
No doubt his sympathies would lie with the likes of HalfSigma...
Sunday, July 17, 2005
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Police have asked the Solicitor General (equivalent to A-G) for permission to lay "hate crime" charges.
Are you hiding?...‘hate crimes’ are little more than ‘thought crimes’, as the intent of the individual is being punished, in addition to the primary criminal act. Even worse is the criminalization of ideas in the absence of force or fraud. Why not simply increase the penalty for vandalism, rather than creating ‘thought police’ type statues?
Whoops!
What I meant to write was: "Are you kidding?..."
That is all.
We have a law in this country which legislates against "inciting hatred". Sounds ridiculous I know but it is one of the few penalty clauses in this nations "Bill of Rights".
Oh BTW it was the product of a right wing government.
Its application in this instance is that the action of vandalising the mosque was an act "intended to encourage others to take similar action against the moslem community" or somesuch as that.
Do I think it is a good idea? Do I approve of this law? Yes, I do happen to believe that it has its place.
How would the US handle the firebrand white preacher who repeatedly incited his congregation to go out and beat up on coloured Americans? What law do you have to prevent that kind of incitement? Would you consider that to be a "thought crime" also?
Hate crime is hate crime, if you splurge in it, you should expect the full weight of the law on your ass.
Don’t quote me on this, but I think there are statutes in the US that prohibit the incitement of riots and the promotion of violence. That being the case, the crime is measurable harm to others, rather than merely “hating” others.
If that is the case, Robert, does it count as a "thought" crime?
I don't "think" so.
There's a judge in the US who has been sentencing petty criminals to listen to entire operas. Maybe that would work?
Hate crimes do bother me. I think that the existing laws cover everyting hate crime laws do ...
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