sixteen year old beaten in hate crime

[Hawkeye2j]

A 16-year-old boy from West Seattle says he was held hostage and beaten for hours, all because of the color of his skin.

Shane McClellan says two men kicked and whipped him at gunpoint - and told him they singled him out because he is white.

Tim McClellan, Shane's father, says he barely recognized his son after the brutal assault.

"I didn't know if he was alive or dead," Tim McClellan said.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/95191119.html

[GetAClue]

It will be interesting to see if/when these attackers are caught, if they are charged with a hate crime. I personally don't care for the whole hate crime statue. All crime by definition is hateful. Just prosecute people for their actions and quit attempting to associate such crimes with perceived intent. If someone is convicted of assualt or murder, does it really matter whether or not they liked the victem or why they did it?

[Hawkeye2j]

It will be interesting to see if/when these attackers are caught, if they are charged with a hate crime. I personally don't care for the whole hate crime statue. All crime by definition is hateful. Just prosecute people for their actions and quit attempting to associate such crimes with perceived intent. If someone is convicted of assualt or murder, does it really matter whether or not they liked the victem or why they did it?
Actually it does. For example: If a wife kills here husband when she catches him in bed with another woman it is a crime of passion and generally carries a lesser penalty than if she acted in a pre-meditated manner. If it is a crime based on a person's color, religion, or sexual orientation then it is not only a crime based on the violence but based also against their civil rights, hence a hate crime and should carry a heavier penalty.

[Dale escondido]

Actually it does. For example: If a wife kills here husband when she catches him in bed with another woman it is a crime of passion and generally carries a lesser penalty than if she acted in a pre-meditated manner. If it is a crime based on a person's color, religion, or sexual orientation then it is not only a crime based on the violence but based also against their civil rights, hence a hate crime and should carry a heavier penalty.

I agree ,any crime simply over color or religion etc deserves special attention and heavier than normal consequences.