[Nuclear1]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0409/Matthew_Shepard_killed_in_nonbias_robbery_Foxx_says.html

North Carolina Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx  is questioning whether the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student, was a bias attack motivated by his sexual orientation.

Shepard's mother Judy was in the gallery at the time, according to a senior Democratic aide.

The socially conservative Foxx, arguing against a new Democratic hate crimes bill that includes new protections for gays and lesbians, described the description of Shepard's murder as a anti-homosexual attack a "hoax" -- and questioned whether prior bias crime legislation should have been named after him.
...
She added: "This -- the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.

Disgusting.

[Rhymes]

What. The ****?

[WeatherOp]

I'm a little confused.... 

[Ford Prefect]

The conservatives have really been losing their **** since the Democratic takeover. It's like the best miniseries ever.

[StarSlayer]

This once was Abraham Lincoln 's party...

Ignorant Stupid Wench. 

[karajorma]

For ****'s sake, the defendants actually tried to use the "gay panic" defence in their trial. Thus admitting that the victim's homosexuality was a key factor in the death.

How anyone can claim that this was simply about a robbery is beyond me.

[NGTM-1R]

So much for visiting the Outer Banks ever again, I might succumb to the temptation to beat some sense into its residents for electing such people.

Pity. It was a nice place.

The conservatives have really been losing their **** since the Democratic takeover. It's like the best miniseries ever.

It's sort of like The West Wing, only the cast is being portrayed as incompetent.

[karajorma]

Even if this crime wasn't a hate crime, so what? Is Foxx really trying to claim that there are no attacks on gays and lesbians simply because of their sexual preferences?

[Rick James]

Republican Party self-immolation in three...two...

[StarSlayer]

Even if this crime wasn't a hate crime, so what? Is Foxx really trying to claim that there are no attacks on gays and lesbians simply because of their sexual preferences?

She probably thinks it's justified by the "Almighty" anyway

[WeatherOp]

Maybe I'm the only one sitting here wondering why it matters.....

[Blue Lion]

Maybe I'm the only one sitting here wondering why it matters.....

Why what matters?

[WeatherOp]

Maybe I'm the only one sitting here wondering why it matters.....

Why what matters?

Honestly, why he was killed. It just gets under my skin a little when someone kills someone, it's just another murder, but when someone kills a "special" person,


OMIGOSH IT'S A HATE CRIME!

I just don't see the difference, both families lost a member, but one is much higher prioritized by society. Like this for instance.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who supports the hate crimes bill, stared in disbelief before answering a question about the statement.

"It's just sad the Republican caucus has been reduced such a fringe," she said. "It's sad they would go out of their way to prevent people from getting justice."

Ok, the two pieces of crap that killed this kid are in jail for the rest of their life, and more justice is needed? It just irks me a little. 

[Nuclear1]

Ok, the two pieces of crap that killed this kid are in jail for the rest of their life, and more justice is needed? It just irks me a little. 

Because in 2007 alone there were 1400 reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation.  Justice doesn't just mean ending it with the people who committed the original act, but ensuring it can never happen again.

[Blue Lion]

The difference is intent. There is no such thing as a special person under hate crime legislation.

[iamzack]

I don't understand why conservatives are so threatened by hate crimes legislation. I guess it's because that means more conservatives in prison longer...

[WeatherOp]

Ok, the two pieces of crap that killed this kid are in jail for the rest of their life, and more justice is needed? It just irks me a little. 

Because in 2007 alone there were 1400 reported hate crimes based on sexual orientation.  Justice doesn't just mean ending it with the people who committed the original act, but ensuring it can never happen again.

But how is that any more different than the untold number of assaults that were based on gender, age, and every other difference that wasn't just reported? If a guy hits another guy with glasses because he thinks the person is a geek is that a hate crime? I just don't see the difference. Hurting someone regardless of intent is still hurting someone.

Also tell me this, how is this "justice" gonna make sure it isn't gonna happen again? Murder has been illegal for how many years now and people are still killing each other?

[iamzack]

It makes the punishment more severe. The thinking is that will deter it, but if not, at least they will get a higher minimum sentence. (To avoid the judges who are like "bah, the world needed less fags anyway.")

Intent does make a difference. It means the person thinks they were justified.

[WeatherOp]

It makes the punishment more severe. The thinking is that will deter it, but if not, at least they will get a higher minimum sentence. (To avoid the judges who are like "bah, the world needed less fags anyway.")

Intent does make a difference. It means the person thinks they were justified.

Ok, now why? If a person kills someone, shouldn't it be just as bad, or are you saying there is a high and low? So if someone gets guilty of murder and gets 20 years, yet someone does a "hate crime" and does the exact same thing but gets life? So, the family of the first case has to deal with their loss being less important and the killer getting out much earlier? That makes no sense at all.

Intent does not make a difference. If you have the guts to kill someone, you would likely have at least some justification, like they cheated with your wife. Once again no difference.

[Blue Lion]

Ok, now why? If a person kills someone, shouldn't it be just as bad, or are you saying there is a high and low? So if someone gets guilty of murder and gets 20 years, yet someone does a "hate crime" and does the exact same thing but gets life? So, the family of the first case has to deal with their loss being less important and the killer getting out much earlier? That makes no sense at all.

Intent does not make a difference. If you have the guts to kill someone, you would likely have at least some justification, like they cheated with your wife. Once again no difference.

We have differing levels of murder you know. Someone who kills someone in a drunk driving accident doesn't get the same sentence even though the family has to deal with the same loss.