Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Thursday that a new, federal hate crimes law is needed. We are not as convinced as Mr. Holder.
Hate crime legislation is a continuing debate in Congress and in many statehouses across the country. The idea to prosecute people for their motives when they commit crimes came about after the horrible murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming in 1998. Shepard was a gay man and he was tortured and murdered by men who hated him because of his sexual orientation. Yet, the perpetrators were successfully prosecuted for murder without a hate crimes statute. It’s hard to figure out how a hate crime law would have aided those prosecutions.
The idea of punishing people because of their hatred for others is attractive. Why shouldn’t neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members and others who hate based on race or religion be punished for their motives? We have to remember that if they commit a crime, their deed, no matter what their motive, will be punished under current laws. For instance, in Indiana a murderer can either face a death sentence or a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison. Passing a federal hate crime law to punish the same murderer seems redundant and unnecessary.
But, we realize there is a large number of people who believe such legislation would be good for society as a whole. Having a hate crimes law on the books would provide a societal marker that states we as a people won’t tolerate such behavior and will punish anyone who victimizes someone based on their race, gender, sexual orientation or religion. In others words, a hate crimes law would be good public relations for Americans as a whole. Other than that purpose, a hate crimes bill would not add much to the judicial penalties already facing criminals.
We expect Congress will eventually pass some sort of hate crimes legislation due to public pressure. We also believe that law will be written into the Congressional Record and then be rarely utilized by federal prosecutors, who will realize they would be wasting their time trying someone who will also be tried on standard criminal statutes in state courts.
Opinion
The weak case for a hate crimes law
- Opinion
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13 turnarounds we can admire
Before trustees of Goshen Community Schools met this past Monday night, a reception was held to honor 13 deserving students. They weren’t valedictorians or salutatorians. They weren’t class presidents or all-state student-athletes.
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Recognition as bicycle-friendly city appreciated
Goshen is in the second year of its four-year designation by the League of American Bicyclists as a bike-friendly community. We congratulate city planners and bicycle advocates for this continuing recognition.
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A message that all children need to hear
Gayla Konanz is giving girls the message they need to hear — fitness begins early in life and is the foundation that self-esteem and confidence are built on.
Konanz is a fitness advocate for children and works through the Girls on the Run program. The Goshen News told readers in the May 2 edition how Konanz is working with girls at Bristol Elementary School and is encouraging them to get fit and stay fit. -
We’re No. 12, and No. 1,268! Way to go GHS
This has become a popular space for singing the praises of our local school corporations in recent years. That’s because we believe in the quality work and effort our educators and students are putting forth on a daily basis in and out of the classroom.
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Bill Bloss was a superb servant
Bill Bloss, a man who was always willing to step up and help his hometown of Goshen, died Wednesday. We know that everyone who had met Mr. Bloss and got to know him, will miss him plenty.
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Voters and candidates deserve a 'thank you'
In light of Tuesday’s primary election, we’d like to take a moment and thank two groups of people.
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A portrait of success this past Friday
Goshen’s First Fridays has garnered its fair share of headlines since March when the City Council began considering ordinance amendments geared toward youth attending the monthly festival.
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Time not always on public’s side
One candidate was asked whether or not he was a socialist. Others discussed funding priorities, and even braved the tricky topic of where Goshen’s “south link road” should or shouldn’t go.
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Good news in local education
Public schools — especially diverse urban districts — often get a bad rap by those who choose to look through the narrow telescope of standardized test scores. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Standardized tests are a wonderful tool for educators, but not the end-all, be-all of gauging achievement and effectiveness.
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Gang 'talk' is what we need
Business owners see the evidence on their store fronts. Teachers see it sitting in their classrooms. Police officers see it in their daily reports. Graffiti. Clothing. Violence. While the term “gang” can conjure images of crusty inner-city slums, it is not a term that is lost any longer here in Elkhart County.
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13 turnarounds we can admire
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