Hate Crime Laws: Are They Constitutional? Essay -- essays research pap

be shun hatred penalty enforcement laws constitutional?Thats Gay. If you ar virtually teenagers today, that is a phrase you will closely likely hear real often. It is not necessarily meant as a homophobic or hate-filled remark, and most of the time it is referring to an object, an idea, or a conversation things that obviously have no sexual orientation. moreover now, according to a extremum passed by the senate, it could near be considered a hate abuse. Many flock support the broadening of hate crime laws, assuming that with stricter penalties, the crimes will lessen. In June, 2004, Senate passed a bill that received a record number of votes, passing 65-33, including 18 Republicans select yes. The measure will add sexual orientation, gender and disability to the identify of motives that provide for enhanced federal prosecution of a violent crime against a person (Lochhead). The current hate crimes law, which originated during the civil rights movement of the mid-sixti es when many Southern states failed to prosecute assaults on African Americans, includes crimes motivated by hatred based on race, color, religion, and national origin. Many see this as a step forward, but there ar some who think of it is unconstitutional. Religious groups argue that "It advances the radical, well publicized agenda of homosexuals to gain adoption for, and legal recognition of, homosexuality as a normal modus vivendi" (Toalston). So whos right? Should there be a collapse category for crimes committed to minorities? Shouldnt all crimes be treated well(p) as serious as another? I believe that the categorizing of crimes into hate offensives is just further segregating people because of their differences, and that paying more serious fear to crimes committed on minorities is sending a bad message to those who are in the majority.     First off, many people perceive hate crime perpetrators as crazed neo-Nazis or "skinheads". Howe ver, most hate crimes are carried out by otherwise law-abiding citizens who see little awry(p) with their actions. Alcohol and drugs sometimes help fuel these crimes, but the main decisive appears to be personal prejudice. New FBI data shows that the number of hate crimes inform in 2003 increased slightly, from 7,462 in 2002 to 7,489 in 2003. The 7,489 hate crime incidents inform to the FBI in 2003 involved 8,715 separate offense... ...will continue to believe that the widening of the classifications of hate crimes is just a way to keep certain people laughing(prenominal) and to make them feel safe, while it really only further separates people who are viewed as different. Hopefully, sometime in the near future, we will type out how to reach the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups of the world and prevent them from harming others. But I can tell you right now, that will not be accomplished by passing any bills that include the word dupe, because it proves itself that its too l ate to help.BibliographyLochhead, Carolyn - Senate OKs bill including gays as hate crime victims The San      Francisco Chronicle, June 16, 2004Toalston, blind Baptist agency lists 10 Reasons to oppose hate crimes legislationThe Baptist Press, July 2 CivilRights.org - New FBI selective information Reports Increase in Hate Crimes November 17, 2004http//www.civilrights.org/issues/hate/details.cfm?id=26241APA.org - Hate Crimes Today An old-hat(p) Foe In Modern Dress     http//www.apa.org/pubinfo/hate/www.fbi.gov Uniform Crime Reports     http//www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm