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The Ethics of Hate Crime Legislation

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The Ethics of Hate Crime Legislation
It was in eighth grade when this kid named Freddy got expelled from my school. He got arrested for spray painting racial slurs and profanity on peoples' cars. Those were felony chargers. Not only did he get charged with crimes, his mom had to pay the victims money for the damage and he got an extra year of probation because it was labeled as a “Hate Motivated Crime”.
Hates crimes should be taken more seriously and should have a harsher punishment. If you get a harsher punishment people will think twice about committing hate crimes.

Hate crimes should have harsher punishment because it would stop the majority of crimes committed towards a race or religion, because if people knew that if they committed a hate crime they would get in more trouble than a regular crime. (Which means more time behind bars). “But when these crimes do occur, we must send an unmistakable message that they matter, that our society takes then very seriously” (Larner and Lieberman 3). What that says is when people know the consequences are worse if you commit a hate crime than a regular crime then they will think twice about committing the crime.

Also another reason is for public safety and happiness. “It is but reasonable that among crimes of different natures these should be most severely punished, which are the most destructive of the public safety and happiness” (Larner and Lieberman 2). It's just common sense. If you make the punishments for hate crimes harsher it will help with public safety and happiness. How would you like someone to burn a cross on your lawn, knowing they wouldn't get in much trouble? Knowing they could just have to pay a fine for destruction of property. That would be terrible and most people would want justice. It's time to step up and make a difference and to put a harsher punishment on the people who commit the hate crimes.

Sure it is true that a crime is a crime. But why I am against that statement is simply the reason of the crime. People commit
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