Jackson Hole Star Tribune (http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/09/30/news/wyoming/84fdf57cfef74482872573630081ca6c.txt)
By MARY CLARE JALONICK
Associated Press writer Sunday, September 30, 2007
Wyoming's two senators objected Thursday to legislation that would help states prosecute attacks on homosexuals, saying new law is not necessary and all crimes are so-called "hate crimes."
this is one of those situations where I do agree whith what is said! all crimes should be treated equal no matter who the victim is sorry if I become unpopular because of this view but as I have said in several other post I believe all people should be treated completely equally under the law! if someone walks up and shoots me in the head it doesn't matter why they did it I am just as dead either way I don't think it should be treated any differently if they did it to robb me or if they did it because I'm transsexual. I understand why these laws are passed (or at least I think I understand it if I wrong feel free to correct me!) it is so someone will think about the consequences before they single out people to hurt based on these reasons but I honestly don't know that it will make that much of a differance because if the original conquences aren't enough to keep them from doing these horrible acts I don't think stiffer penalities are going to mean that much more to anyone! (sorry if you don't agree with how I feel I will listen to all rational attempts to express different views than my own!)
One of the main portions of the bill provides federal resources to municipalities who can't or won't rigorously investigate and prosecute these types of crime. So when a town's police force can't, or won't because of institutional homo or transphobia, prosecute a hate crime, the federal government would be able to step in.
And while it's true that the individual victim is victimized no matter what the motivation was of the perpetrator, the real effect of hate crimes is to chill and instill fear into the community the victim was a member of and whose membership made them the victim.
Hate crimes are local terrorism. We, as a society, need to make sure that when someone throws a molotov cocktail at a black church that they, when caught, are punished more severely because it isn't just the church or its members that are hurt. It's the whole community. And when a gay man or a trans woman is beaten and murdered because of who they are they aren't the only victims. The victims include all the gay and trans people who are frightened and hindered in the free action of their lives because of that fear.
Oversimplification of an issue is a favored tactic of political opponents. It would behoove us not to fall into that kind of trap.
hugs & smiles
Emelye
Quote from: Emelye on September 30, 2007, 07:16:16 PM
One of the main portions of the bill provides federal resources to municipalities who can't or won't rigorously investigate and prosecute these types of crime. So when a town's police force can't, or won't because of institutional homo or transphobia, prosecute a hate crime, the federal government would be able to step in.
And while it's true that the individual victim is victimized no matter what the motivation was of the perpetrator, the real effect of hate crimes is to chill and instill fear into the community the victim was a member of and whose membership made them the victim.
Hate crimes are local terrorism. We, as a society, need to make sure that when someone throws a molotov cocktail at a black church that they, when caught, are punished more severely because it isn't just the church or its members that are hurt. It's the whole community. And when a gay man or a trans woman is beaten and murdered because of who they are they aren't the only victims. The victims include all the gay and trans people who are frightened and hindered in the free action of their lives because of that fear.
Oversimplification of an issue is a favored tactic of political opponents. It would behoove us not to fall into that kind of trap.
hugs & smiles
Emelye
I had never looked at things in this light before I guess in my thinking I had oversimplified the issue I had never really thought of it in such a broad scope I really need to be careful of that narrow views breed narrow minds! thank you for taking the time to explain things to me in this way you have made me rethink my standing on this issue. and to anyone who may have been offended by my narrow view of this situation I am truely sorry!