Hate Crime Without Hate

Here's a case where three thieves were charged with a hate crime because they selected a gay man as their robbery victim. They didn't hate the gay guy. They just figured that a gay man likely wouldn't put up much of a fight when being robbed. As it is, they gave him a terrible beating which ultimately led to his death.

Three robbers, John Fox, 20, Ilya Shurov, 21, and Anthony Fortunato, 21, were charged with murder under the New York State Hate Crimes Act of 2000, which provides longer prison sentences for crimes motivated "in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person."

Like I mentioned, the robbers didn't hate the guy. Nevertheless, it appears that when a person commits a criminal act based upon virtually any preconceived notion about another person, it could be deemed a hate crime. Stealing Social Security checks from the elderly -- hate crime. Raping a woman -- hate crime. Taking candy from a baby -- hate crime. Stealing from a church collection box -- hate crime.

What really jerks my chain, however, is that punishment for killing me is less than punishment for killing a protected subgroup in society. Damn, when did my life become less valuable?