"All Hate Crimes Are Not Equal" said NY Blade recently. You think so too?
According to a report by NY Blade last week, like most national tragedies, the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech has found its way into the public debate on a number of hot-button social issues. Within hours, both sides of the battle over gun control had cited the events in Blacksburg to support their positions.
Do our laws regularly punish crimes differently based upon the intent of the perpetrator and the societal impact of the offense?
Consider for a moment if Cho Hseung-Hui, the VA Tech shooter, had been a Muslim, and his videotape message has said his attack was part of an anti-American jihad. The crime would no doubt taken on even greater significance, probably resulting in all sorts of anti-terror measures...but the truth is: Cho killed 33 people with a gun he bought - easily bought.
According to a report by NY Blade last week, like most national tragedies, the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech has found its way into the public debate on a number of hot-button social issues. Within hours, both sides of the battle over gun control had cited the events in Blacksburg to support their positions.
Do our laws regularly punish crimes differently based upon the intent of the perpetrator and the societal impact of the offense?
Consider for a moment if Cho Hseung-Hui, the VA Tech shooter, had been a Muslim, and his videotape message has said his attack was part of an anti-American jihad. The crime would no doubt taken on even greater significance, probably resulting in all sorts of anti-terror measures...but the truth is: Cho killed 33 people with a gun he bought - easily bought.