Take a Closer Look at Hate Crime Legislation

Fred Dickey’s article on hate crimes (“The Perversion of Hate,” Oct. 22) displays such ignorance of the law that it borders on irresponsibility. I believe that every criminal described in the article had selected a victim who was a member of a group for which that criminal had displayed animosity. In other words, the criminal was not randomly targeting any stranger but actively seeking a victim who was a member of a particular group.

California’s hate crime law, which I’ve helped write, provides penalty enhancements for crimes committed because of the perpetrator’s demonstrated bias toward a particular class of individuals. The intentional selection and beating or murder of individuals because of their membership in a community or group terrorizes an entire community.

In California you must commit a violent crime to be convicted of a felony hate crime; you cannot be prosecuted for your thoughts or beliefs. I strongly believe in the importance of prevention and that hate crime legislation is an appropriate and judicious response to heinous acts of terrorism.

Sheila James Kuehl

California Assembly

41st District

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As a gay man, I am painfully aware that you may be bombarded with indignant bellows of protest from gay rights organizations, as we seem to have become one of the most insufferable of the special-interest groups. But I am convinced that the hate crime laws are unnecessary, ineffective and unfair in their application, and that they pervert the justice system by introducing motive as a criterion for punishment. Dickey’s article was a very important piece--clearly and vividly presented--and I am grateful to your magazine for having published it.

Bob Burket

Santa Monica

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Dickey’s article is a perversion of journalistic license. Hate crime legislation is a crucial antidote to the pervasive attitude that encourages the expression of intolerance and bigotry through violent acts. Most hate crimes are not reported because the hated do not know where the hatred stops and justice begins. Dickey has now blurred that line even more. He emboldened the criminals and silenced their victims. Well done.

Rob Wilson

Studio City

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The people who commit hate crimes are attacking the right of other people to pursue their American dreams. The government has a moral duty to punish hate crimes because they attack the fabric that holds Americans together.

Michael Sakai-Salazar

Lomita

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Gee, now that you’ve exposed hate crime legislation as unenforceable social-engineering bunk, why stop there? A brief roundup of how the presidential candidates regard this issue would have helped your audience take action. Gore supports it; Bush doesn’t. And the Libertarian Party has always rejected such soft-minded legislation as an inevitable Pandora’s box.

Greg Plageman

Via the Internet