Sorry I couldn't resist.
But I don't want anyone to think I'm making light of violent crime. I really think all acts of violence are horrific and should be punished to the full extent of the law.
'Underneath'
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Sorry I couldn't resist.
But I don't want anyone to think I'm making light of violent crime. I really think all acts of violence are horrific and should be punished to the full extent of the law.
Lynchings are a classic example. If you drag a black man through the streets because he allegedly did something you're making it very clear to other black men that things like trials and justice don't apply to them.
That's a good example, Trudy. But in that case, lynching a man should in itself earn the murderer(s) a full prison sentence, shouldn't it?
Oh yes. And nowadays it generally does (though of course it didn't used to).
Lynching is the extreme example. Burning a cross on someone's lawn though... is it just property damage? Or is it a larger threat to a community?
I think once it is murder--the additional charge of hate crime might not be useful. But in the case of beating or cross burning it can add time
The cross-burning is interesting. You're right, it's more than trespassing or property damage.
And yet... I feel like maybe we shouldn't prosecute people for what is in their heads.
Philosophically, I am uncomfortable with the idea of thought crime. But then of course there are things like cross burning, so.
Timelies all!
My deepest sympathies on your loss, ND.
But then of course there are things like cross burning, so.
I think cross burning is a special case because it has a specific historic context and meaning. Is it ever done not in that context?