does not matter the reason.if you intentionally cause bodily harm to someone you should spend 10 to 20 in the state pen without parole.

except in self defence

The difference is that people that go out looking for a fight and end up fighing men, DON'T do it because they hate men in general. If you target someone because they are gay I would say that makes it a hate crime. mos def:)

How else would you define hate crime?

If it's a violent offense against a stranger, how is it NOT a hate crime? With that in mind, what is the point of a hate crime? Why do some groups receive preferential treatment over others? Why don't we just punish them based on the offense instead of the intended target?

I'm sorry but this guy is banned and he can post threads?

WTF?

I'm not saying it isn't a hate crime. I'm saying why should it matter. 

If I were to go out and get beaten up and the guy were to get five years in prison. 
Then a gay or black man were to go out and get beaten up and the guy was to get 10 years in prison because it was deemed a "hate crime". How is that fair to me? 

I keep hearing gays say "give us equality" then people cheer when someone that attacks a gay person is charged with a hate crime then given a larger jail term. How is that equality? 

A crime considered particularly heinous for having been motivated by hate for a race, gender, religion, etc. which can result in harsher punishments by statute

I think the case here is can be punished harsher. Considering it was a bar the man might have been intoxicated or the homoesexual gentleman had hit back. in either case the defendant's attorney could have argued that it was not beyond a reasonable doubt a hate motivated violence but just a man going into a bar looking for a fight and fighting a man who happend to be gay.

Victim is unlucky period but the cross burner was even more unfairly punished with the 12 years thats a bigger shock. I don't think prison time will increase his tolerance of the black community merely embelish it to aggrevated levels while watching Generation X might have taught him a better lesson.

I agree to a point. All violence is done in hate. I hope.

I'm guessing the reason for the "hate crime" thingy is to protect certain groups that for different reasons needs protection more than others. Often based on how these "groups" has "been" "treated" "earlier""""".

I would also like to say ".

Plus it sends a message.

It's gonna be tricky to explain what I mean here but I'll give it a try:

There's a difference in treating someone equal and treating someone fair. You can treat all people equal but tha doesn't mean you treat them fair. People have different needs and should be treated accordingly. Well, at least, imo.

It's fair because it's needed. It's not like your attacker gets a special deal because he only attacked a random "normal" dude.

That's nice...I can't log out.

this thread disturbs me.... but find it oddly interesting 

after reading a few comments im speechless, so i guess if someone comes to me and start beating the shit out of me just because my sexual preference (I'm gay) it shouldn't count as a "hate crime"?

0_0