Response to “Death by PC”

I am flattered that you took the time to discuss this issue. My fear is that a legal precedent will be set by legislating hate crimes because they necessitate the judgment of one's thoughts to be an aggravating factor in the commission of a crime. If someone commits a murder it is a murder whatever their thought patterns. I believe that HC legislation has grown out of the original movement of the courts to try and find the root causes of criminal behavior and punish accordingly (which sometimes means not at all). Radical Muslims can BELIEVE all they want that Allah wants them to murder infidels as long as they don't actually murder infidels.

Much as the Patriot Act was INTENDED to stave off terrorist acts but can be used in the wrong hands to bypass constitutional protections against search and seizure, HC laws may be instituted with the best of intentention only to carry on until the wrong people wind up in a position to use it against anyone whose thoughts are deemed by the prevailing authorities to be hateful.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

And no good deed goes unpunished.