Hate is not a crime.

I personally think that committing an act of violence against another person solely because of their race, color, creed, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation is completely whack. But the motive for committing a crime should not mean that extra bonus penalties apply. We live in a country where freedom of speech is protected(for the most part). I am grateful for that fact. If some uses that freedom to spew hate, that is their right, whether it is right or wrong. If folks have hate in their hearts and want to yell about it from the mountain tops, then word, and if you don't like what these peoples are saying....YELL BACK!!! It's allowed. If folks act upon those thoughts and ideas that's when there's a problem, and justice should be served. The punishment should be for the crime and not for the crimes motive because aren't most crimes, "hate crimes". People don't murder or beat someone up because they're BFFs. Or do they?