Quote:
Originally Posted by Bionca
This could have been about either the Employment Non-Discrimination Act which for the first time was sent to the Senate with language covering "Gender Identity and Expression" or the Hate Crimes Act that includes Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression - both are making the rounds lately.
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I don't believe that "hate crimes" are constitutional. Of course LGBT people shouldn't have fewer rights than other citizens. They should not receive less protection than other citizens. So then conversely, they shouldn't have more rights or protections than other citizens.
Minorities, have a right to expect equal treatment. But what they often do is become guilty of the racism or whatever bias they are fighting against by demanding special treatment. Equal rights means equal rights. If you want to put an end to discrimination, then do so.
And don't forget the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines or cruel and unusual punishments.
The purpose of punishment is deterrence. You cannot deter someone from hating someone else by punishing them, nor should you. We are free to feel whatever we want about anything. When it goes to far is when a crime is committed. In that case they should receive an unbiased punishment fitting the crime. And it's ridiculous to call only certain instances of a crime a hate crime when it involves a certain minority. What if some guy blows away a clown because he hates clowns. Well that hate isn't recognized. Guess what - most violent crimes involve some type of hate.