The shooter targeted a church. That is a hate crime.
I don't think modifying hate crime laws to include political persecution serves much purpose. Those laws are just sentencing add ons. If we want to prevent future suicide sprees, we need to rebuild the social safety nets Republicans (and many Democrats) have been weakening over the past few decades.
Assistance for the poor, sick or unemployed is an investment in public safety. Republicans love to spend money on police, prisons and more draconian laws. They like to punish rather than protect. Which approach is more cost effective?
As money for housing went down in the 1990s, money for prisons went up. Prisons are, in practical terms, housing for the poor, especially black males. In a sense, the money that could have helped poor folks of all categories went into a very profitable hole for one particular category of people.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2008/07/31 - 6:38pm.
If convicted of first degree murder, the sentence ranges from life with the possibility of parole after 51 years, life without parole or even the death penalty. What more would adding more for a "hate crime" do?
Submitted by Jake Jost (not verified) on Thu, 2008/07/31 - 7:01pm.
Under Tennessee's code, hate crime is a sentencing enhancer rather than another crime. From a recent conversation one of our reporters had with Don Bosch, it could add about 12 years.
I could be wrong but I don't believe Tennessee has a hate crime law. tt's the federal law that Tennessee follows to protects groups individuals. I understand that the law protects all races, religions, organization, or any structured group of people.
Here's one example I found on New York attorney's web site. If someone tells a lawyer joke in bar, then gets into a scuffle with an attorney. The individual could be charged with a hate crime for every attorney in the bar.
Submitted by MarylandBear (not verified) on Fri, 2008/08/01 - 6:05am.
That was what I thought.
While I am a supporter of hate crimes laws, this is not the best case to argue for them, because Adkisson, assuming he's convicted (and that seems pretty certain) will never see the light of day again. Even if he's eligible for parole after 51 years, he's almost certain to not live long enough to get parole.
Essentially, the only way he could get out of prison would be a pardon, and any Tennessee governor who even considered that would get calls from Ray Blanton saying "are you crazy?"
(okay, checking wikipedia, I see Blanton has himself been dead for over a decade....)
Daddy (90 years old this year) always said, "Would you rather pay for schools or prisons? Because you are paying at least three times more for prisons."
The shooter targeted a church. That is a hate crime.
I don't think modifying hate crime laws to include political persecution serves much purpose. Those laws are just sentencing add ons. If we want to prevent future suicide sprees, we need to rebuild the social safety nets Republicans (and many Democrats) have been weakening over the past few decades.
Assistance for the poor, sick or unemployed is an investment in public safety. Republicans love to spend money on police, prisons and more draconian laws. They like to punish rather than protect. Which approach is more cost effective?
As money for housing went down in the 1990s, money for prisons went up. Prisons are, in practical terms, housing for the poor, especially black males. In a sense, the money that could have helped poor folks of all categories went into a very profitable hole for one particular category of people.
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
If convicted of first degree murder, the sentence ranges from life with the possibility of parole after 51 years, life without parole or even the death penalty. What more would adding more for a "hate crime" do?
Under Tennessee's code, hate crime is a sentencing enhancer rather than another crime. From a recent conversation one of our reporters had with Don Bosch, it could add about 12 years.
I could be wrong but I don't believe Tennessee has a hate crime law. tt's the federal law that Tennessee follows to protects groups individuals. I understand that the law protects all races, religions, organization, or any structured group of people.
Here's one example I found on New York attorney's web site. If someone tells a lawyer joke in bar, then gets into a scuffle with an attorney. The individual could be charged with a hate crime for every attorney in the bar.
I believe you are correct that Tennessee does not have a hate crime law per se, but does have laws to enhance sentencing based on hate crime elements.
After reading your reply I looked a little deeper and found it. I apologize for missing it the first time.
That was what I thought.
While I am a supporter of hate crimes laws, this is not the best case to argue for them, because Adkisson, assuming he's convicted (and that seems pretty certain) will never see the light of day again. Even if he's eligible for parole after 51 years, he's almost certain to not live long enough to get parole.
Essentially, the only way he could get out of prison would be a pardon, and any Tennessee governor who even considered that would get calls from Ray Blanton saying "are you crazy?"
(okay, checking wikipedia, I see Blanton has himself been dead for over a decade....)
Daddy (90 years old this year) always said, "Would you rather pay for schools or prisons? Because you are paying at least three times more for prisons."
He targeted a UU church because he hates the beliefs of Unitarian Universalism. Seems that falls under the category of religion.
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