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How to determine if it’s a ‘hate crime’?

   I respectfully disagree with Ulysses deArmas’ July 6 letter.
   He brought up the case of Matthew Shepard’s horrific murder in 1998. We all believe that if somebody murders someone, they should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law — no matter why they murdered them. In this case, the two murderers were caught, prosecuted and sentenced to the highest penalty they could get. The death penalty was sought, but Matthew’s family didn’t believe in the death penalty, so they were sentenced to life in prison — which was the most they could get.
   Matt didn’t deserve to be murdered. No one does. We want everyone protected, whether homosexual or heterosexual. Hate crime laws single out some groups for more protection than others. This is the unfairness and the danger. All crimes are believed to be done in hate — not love. Who is going to be the one to determine what was in someone’s thoughts, and then say that this person’s intent was more hateful than someone else’s who was charged with the same crime but wasn’t gay?
   LETITIA RIGGS
   Schenectady  

  
  
  

Let me say there Letitia....you hit the nail right on the head! If someone murders a heterosexual, that person is charged with 'murder'. If someone murders a homosexual, that person is charged with a 'hate crime'. Can some lawyer please explain what the hell the difference is here? Why do we have to breakdown and disect every single thing. Murder is murder! Man slaughter is man slaughter. Well, we will have to keep that one a secret, cause if the women attorneys get the drift of that one, they will disect that down to 'man slaughter' and than there will also be 'woman slaughter'.  It never ends with these guys. OPPS, or should I say guys AND girls?

I absolutely agree.

So true so true......