[mikesears]

Would anyone deny that most assaults against sports officials occur because of a decision they made in a game? Aren't some people attacked just because they are black, or Jewish, or gay?

If you think the answer to those questions is "No," then you should continue your argument against special laws. But if you think the answer to any one of those questions is "Yes," then you ought to join me and others in pressing for special legislation for special groups.

Sports officials is one of those groups. [/B][/QUOTE]

Where do we draw the line in terms of groups? Do we also include "professors", "teachers", "nerds", "the physically weak", "the mentally challenged", "the elderly", "bosses and supervisors", "white people", "drunks", "theives", "pedaphiles", "people who have been aquitted", etc.? All of these types of people have been attacked because of who they are or what they do (or have done). Where does the naming of groups stop?

If we want to stop the assaults, the only real solution is to increase the penalty for ALL assaults. This way, we FORCE prosecutors to do something about the problem. Every assault is born out of disgust for something.

I think we can all agree that assaults on sports officials (or other groups) simply shouldn't be tolerated by prosecutors.

Just my opinion and I'm sticking to it