It’s the same everywhere, isn’t it? But when it comes from a lawyer, one suspects it’s disingenuous.
The reason hate crimes should be treated differently is very simple – it’s because in addition to the basic crime (in this case, the assault) there is a further action, which is the willful intimidation of a community. An attack on two people because they are lesbian hurts not only them but also other gay and bisexual people who may subsequently feel unsafe.
“If a person is attacked because the aggressor feels some sort of personal animosity towards the victim, why should that attack be punished less severely than one where the aggressor hates the victim because of the latter’s religious affiliation or belonging to a minority group?”
Because its effects go way beyond the individuals attacked, and it is intended to intimidate the members of the minority in question. So for example attacks on gay people leaving a club late at night cause a general fear among the community of going out clubbing. Or attacks on a bus cause a fear of gay couples travelling together. Generally it creates a fear of being visible.
Hate crimes are just a way of more effectively fitting the punishment to the overall effect of the crime.
malta is rather a conservative catholic country, i’m sure that the defense will try to use attackers’ strong christian believes as a reason for an emotionally driven attack. and since malta hasn’t got any laws that deals with homophobia prosecutors wont be able to pursue the avenue where although you are entitle to your believes they cannot overrule the law of the land (namely that it is illegal to attack someone just because they happen to be gay) and therefore as a result punishment might me less severe
Admittedly it’s a long time since I read the Gospels, but I missed the bit where Christ said it was OK to physically attack those different from yourself. Following “Christian principles”, should he choose to use that defence, should have resulted in him looking the other way.
i think its to do with the christian culture of pick’n'choose and hypocrisy and the fact that there is more to christianity then just teachings of christ
Yet another instance of homomisia (the outright hatred of gay people) – it is a word that is missing from our dictionaries as hetties pretend to ‘fear’ us whilst in reality they just plainly hate us for being gay – regardless of whatever religion wings their ding.
Crimes committed against individuals because of their perceived affiliations are a form of terrorism intended to weaken those perceived affiliations. Violence as a means of intimidation intended to affect social change is sort of a textbook definition of terrorism. Claire Bonello is a complete and utter dumbass.
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It’s the same everywhere, isn’t it? But when it comes from a lawyer, one suspects it’s disingenuous.
The reason hate crimes should be treated differently is very simple – it’s because in addition to the basic crime (in this case, the assault) there is a further action, which is the willful intimidation of a community. An attack on two people because they are lesbian hurts not only them but also other gay and bisexual people who may subsequently feel unsafe.
Exactly.
“If a person is attacked because the aggressor feels some sort of personal animosity towards the victim, why should that attack be punished less severely than one where the aggressor hates the victim because of the latter’s religious affiliation or belonging to a minority group?”
Because its effects go way beyond the individuals attacked, and it is intended to intimidate the members of the minority in question. So for example attacks on gay people leaving a club late at night cause a general fear among the community of going out clubbing. Or attacks on a bus cause a fear of gay couples travelling together. Generally it creates a fear of being visible.
Hate crimes are just a way of more effectively fitting the punishment to the overall effect of the crime.
malta is rather a conservative catholic country, i’m sure that the defense will try to use attackers’ strong christian believes as a reason for an emotionally driven attack. and since malta hasn’t got any laws that deals with homophobia prosecutors wont be able to pursue the avenue where although you are entitle to your believes they cannot overrule the law of the land (namely that it is illegal to attack someone just because they happen to be gay) and therefore as a result punishment might me less severe
Admittedly it’s a long time since I read the Gospels, but I missed the bit where Christ said it was OK to physically attack those different from yourself. Following “Christian principles”, should he choose to use that defence, should have resulted in him looking the other way.
i think its to do with the christian culture of pick’n'choose and hypocrisy and the fact that there is more to christianity then just teachings of christ
Yikes. Great advertisement for Visit Malta.
Yet another instance of homomisia (the outright hatred of gay people) – it is a word that is missing from our dictionaries as hetties pretend to ‘fear’ us whilst in reality they just plainly hate us for being gay – regardless of whatever religion wings their ding.
Hetties? Really?
Well, they sure ain’t thinking “straight.”
Crimes committed against individuals because of their perceived affiliations are a form of terrorism intended to weaken those perceived affiliations. Violence as a means of intimidation intended to affect social change is sort of a textbook definition of terrorism. Claire Bonello is a complete and utter dumbass.
The only reason the lawyer want’s it all hate crimes treating is to make THEIR life easier. Simple as….
Not all hate crimes are the sames. the motivation behind them is always different so there for cannot be treated in the same manner.
I know things are better for us than they were 40 years ago, but when you see stuff like this it really doesn’t feel as if things are improving.