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Originally posted by Ump20
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Originally posted by Jim Mills
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Homosexuals and blacks are sometimes battered before cheering crowds in this country. The behavior is every bit as illegal when inflicted upon them as when it is upon officials, or Joe Citizen. We passed laws making them each a protected class. The behavior has not abated.
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This is the classic position of the political conservative: Let's not do anything about hand guns; let's just "enforce the laws we have."
If history has shown us anything, it is that the criminal justice system is run by "people of their time and place." A crime that gets one person probation sends another to jail for ten years.
So we find two purposes behind the creation of "hate crime" legislation:
- It forces reluctant prosecutors to bring cases;
- It publicizes certain crimes and the increased punishment, which may serve as deterrent.
That's the one that applies to sports officials.
As an umpire, which would you prefer to hear on the evening news: James Noname today was convicted of first degree assault and battery. He was sentenced to 6 months probation and.... (You know, that piece wouldn't even appear.)
BUT:
James Noname today was convicted of first degree assault and battery against Carl Childress, a local umpire who also teaches English at Edinburg High School. Mr. Childress expressed graditude to the jury for....
It's the added publicity attendant to "hate crime" prosecution that helps make society a little safer for us all.
[Edited by Carl Childress on Feb 28th, 2001 at 01:22 PM]