Certain murders are more likely to receive the death penalty than others; in fact, the Supreme Court (and thus every state) requires that juries list “aggravating” factors that led them to impose the death penalty. So, one murder may get a life sentence, while another gets the death penalty. Why? Because the aggravating factors are seen as presenting a greater harm to society. The law in every state treats “cop-killing” as death eligible. Mutilation is an aggravating factor. Killing a very young person is an aggravating factor. Killing more than one person is an aggravating factor, etc.

Similarly, killing people because of religion, sexuality, etc., causes harms that extend beyond one person and that individual's immediate community. Others who share the characteristic are chilled due to the crimre. There are tons of psychological and criminal law literature on this subject. Even the Supreme Corut has ruled on the issue — in a case validating an enhanced penalty for a black man who selected a white victim due to race. See Mitchell v Wisconsin.

This post was mentioned on Twitter by TMV: Pat Robertson Is Not Happy About Hate Crimes Bill: Another freedom has been taken away from him:

Yesterday on the C… http://bit.ly/2UliTO...

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes to start coming down? Or is this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes start coming down? Or this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?

I personally oppose hate crimes legislation, but I feel that I have at least some understanding of where supporters of hate crime legislation are coming from considering that I was once a staunch supporter of such legislation (and as a civil libertarian, continue to be a supporter of most gay rights).

I have offered my comprehensive 4 1/2 page position on this subject, both here at TMV and over at my blog. I'd be willing to clarify any part of my position that others find confusing, but it's probably a waste of time and space to repost the entire post here.

So I'll simply ask supporters of hate crimes legislation: What does this legislation accomplish? How do gays or lesbians or any other discriminated group benefit from this legislation? And when I say benefit, I'm talking about tangible benefits that can be measured empirically? Does this legislation offer any tangible benefits for gays or lesbians? Should we expect hate crimes start coming down? Or this simply a bunch of “feel good” legislation passed by a bunch of armchair politicians who are merely pandering to gays and lesbians?