Good Example of Government trampling Liberties.

Steve · Jul 2, 2007

I've been at left wing, traitorous, america hating, terrorist sympathizing summer camp.

I sang Kum Bay Ya, hugged a tree, and made a cool ceramic ash tray which I painted with bio degradable earth friendly all natural dyes which harmed no animals. I'm off right now to a vegan lunch.

Peace out.

David · Jul 2, 2007

Hate Crimes legislation is legislation of thought. As backwards as it is, we can still hate in this country and that thought is protected by the Constitution. Killing a man is illegal. What the Hate Crimes legislation punishes is what you were thinking while committing the crime.

We either have free speech or we don't. It is still legal for us to say incredibly stupid and hateful stuff. It should be no different in the commission of a crime.

Free Speech guarantees unpopular speech, not popular speech.

magnolia · Jul 2, 2007

Grace Slick said: ↑

[FONT=&quot]Federal prosecution of hate crimes[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]
1969 law

18 U.S.C. § 245 (b)(2), enacted in 1969, permits federal prosecution of people who "by force or threat of force willfully injures, intimidates or interferes with... any person because of his race, color, religion or national origin and because he is or has been" attempting to engage in one of six types of federally protected activities, such as voting or going to school. Penalties for hate crimes involving firearms are prison terms of up to 10 years, while crimes involving kidnapping, sexual assault, or murder can bring life terms or the death penalty.[1]
Appellant courts have upheld the constitutionality of the law,[2] and the Supreme Court has declined to review those decisions.[3] Courts have also held that the law provides for criminal sanctions only, and does not create a cause of action for civil liability.[4]
Hate Crime Sentencing Enhancement Act (1994)

The Hate Crime Sentencing Enhancement Act, enacted in 28 U.S.C. § 944 note Sec. 280003, requires the United States Sentencing Commission to increase the penalties for hate crimes committed on the basis of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person. In 1995, the Sentencing Commission implemented these guidelines, which only apply to federal crimes.[5]
Attempted expansion of 1969 law

Main article: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007
On May 3, 2007, the House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (LLEHCPA), HR 1592, which would expand existing United States federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, and which would drop the prerequisite that the victim be engaging in a federally-protected activity. Similar legislation is expected to pass in the Senate, but President Bush has indicated he may veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.[6] This would be President Bush's fourth veto.
The LLEHCPA has been introduced in substantially similar form in each Congress since the 105th Congress in 1999, but has never made it into law. The 2007 bill expands on the earlier versions (originally called the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act) by including transgender provisions and making it explicit that the law should not be interpreted to restrict people's freedom of speech or association.[7]

The Hate Crimes Act does impede freedom of speech if threatening.

Grace
Click to expand...

I repeat. How is calling someone a name threatening them?

magnolia · Jul 2, 2007

Grace Slick said: ↑

Funny! Magnolia is a very passionate and wonderful person. Her arguments have made me do alot of research and thinking. If it were not for her some of the items I posted on this one I would not have known about. Don't think for one minute she will back down. Not in her nature. Treat her with respect.

Grace
Click to expand...

That's okay, Grace. May Fred flick a cigar ash on Steve's head. :mrgreen:

KDsGrandma · Jul 4, 2007

Flint Benson said: ↑

Yep, that was Fred...just more hair and long sideburns then!!
Click to expand...

That's Howard Baker on the right, and Sam Dash in the middle.

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Good Example of Government trampling Liberties.

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Good Example of Government trampling Liberties.

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