A Hate Crime (Page 2): :sm24: :sm24: :sm24:...

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Jimmy T wrote:

I just wish that they would enforce our current laws instead of hanging adjectives on old laws.
But is that just me?

StevenBrownPhoto Loc: Excelsior, MN

jerryc41 wrote:

It does seem to be a stretch, but knocking down an 84-year-old woman vs doing the same to a 6' 5" 250 lb man probably figures into it. There should be an increased penalty for that.

A hate crime (also known as a bias-motivated crime or bias crime) is a prejudice-motivated crime, which occurs when a perpetrator targets a victim because of their physical appearance or perceived membership of a certain social group.

We could do away with hate crimes if, as a society, we actually started treating everyone the same.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

BebuLamar wrote:

So older people tend to be hated?

Don't forget Millenials and Gen Zers view Boomers as a bunch of self centered, greedy old farts. To them, Boomers are the generation that's leaving them a ruined planet and an uncontrollable national debt, who refuse to sell their houses so they can afford one and who still hold all the better paying jobs because they won't retire and get out of the way. Yeah, I think it's only a matter of time before they become vigilantes and start clearing the "dead wood" out of society! Hmmmm...maybe they're right.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

StevenBrownPhoto wrote:

We could do away with hate crimes if, as a society, we actually started treating everyone the same.

"...the same..." is a bit vague. Generally speaking, most of society is treated pretty badly.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

jerryc41 wrote:

It does seem to be a stretch, but knocking down an 84-year-old woman vs doing the same to a 6' 5" 250 lb man probably figures into it. There should be an increased penalty for that.

A hate crime (also known as a bias-motivated crime or bias crime) is a prejudice-motivated crime, which occurs when a perpetrator targets a victim because of their physical appearance or perceived membership of a certain social group.

The penalty for committing a crime against a particularly vulnerable victim or where there is a special relationship or duty can be enhanced. That is a different concept than assault on a specifically enumerated race, religion, or orientation. I’d be interested to see what the actual statute says in whatever state this occurred. I completely agree with a more serious penalty for this kind of cowardly act, in fact the first murder case I was involved in was the result of two teenagers knocking down an elderly woman during a purse snatching. Horrible event that was instrumental in helping me decide the course of my career.

Horseart Loc: Alabama

My cousin's other grandmother (92 years old) was badly beaten when returning home from dinner with a friend. Two young boys ripped a diamond ring off of her finger (it was too tight to just take off) and stole her purse. They left her lying on the sidewalk in front of her house. Took her 3 months to recover.
I mean it every time I say "Stay safe and be blessed".

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Horseart wrote:

My cousin's other grandmother (92 years old) was badly beaten when returning home from dinner with a friend. Two young boys ripped a diamond ring off of her finger (it was too tight to just take off) and stole her purse. They left her lying on the sidewalk in front of her house. Took her 3 months to recover.
I mean it every time I say "Stay safe and be blessed".

Horrible.

jimvanells Loc: Augusta, GA

While there are no other adjective modifying "84 year old women" we can only speculate if it is or was a "hate" crime. It is however, an elder abuse crime by definition. In some states it's a felony.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

An 84-year-old woman was pumping gas locally when a man knocked her down, go into her car, and started going through her purse. Another man tried to pull him out of the car, but he started it and took off. Because of the victim's age, he is being charged with a hate crim. Interesting.

As far as a hate crime involving old ladies, I managed to get to be an old man by learning not to mess with old ladies.

The whole concept of a "hate" crime is spurious. It requires that we be able to look into the mind of the defendant and know with certainty what their intentions were. The concept of a "protected class" is a political issue and should have no role in a judicial process based on facts and logic. Who decides which groups are protected and which are not? Motives, intentions and "hate" should be addressed, if at all, during the sentencing phase of a trial.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Reuss Griffiths wrote:

The whole concept of a "hate" crime is spurious.

The idea is that the attack occurred simply because of who the victim was. If someone attacked a man from Candyland because we are at war with Candyland, that can be considered a hate crime.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jimvanells wrote:

While there are no other adjective modifying "84 year old women" we can only speculate if it is or was a "hate" crime. It is however, an elder abuse crime by definition. In some states it's a felony.

I hope there is follow-up in the news. If the perp is sent to jail, maybe the dreaded "Senior Stompers" gang will work him over. 😂

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

The idea is that the attack occurred simply because of who the victim was. If someone attacked a man from Candyland because we are at war with Candyland, that can be considered a hate crime.

Adjectives describing the victim don't change the fact that a crime occurred. Guilt or innocence should be decided by what was done, not to whom. The "whom" part may be addressed in sentencing if the judge or jury so decides.

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

Ah, Jerry, ya got a new avatar! The old and new seems like 2 different people. The new one with the ukulele is quite appropriate.

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

Reuss Griffiths wrote:

As far as a hate crime involving old ladies, I man... (show quote)

Jurys decide these issues every day. It’s not rocket science.

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

clint f. wrote:

Jurys decide these issues every day. It’s not rocket science.

What's the difference between shooting someone in the leg you might hate vs shooting someone in the leg that you don't hate?