Hate Crimes
* On Oct. 19, a letter writer said that Matthew Shepard was only dead because he was a homosexual and that is why a “hate” crimes law must be enacted.
I seem to recall that a young man was recently killed only because he worked behind the counter at a convenience store. Another person was only dead because she was the wife of the killer. Another dead only because he wore the wrong color. Another dead only because he was a Catholic. Another dead only because he was a bank guard. Another dead only because he enraged another car driver. And on and on.
Let us prosecute only what people do, not what they think. I don’t know of anyone who kills someone because they love them.
MICHAEL CREGAN
Santa Barbara
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