The Hate (Crimes) Debate

The recent shooting rampage by Pittsburgh immigration lawyer Richard Scott Baumhammers, viewed as a "hate crime" by authorities, has sparked a debate over hate crime laws among About.com Guides.

For those unfamiliar with the case, Baumhammers' rampage left a Jewish woman, an Indian man, two Asian men and a black man dead, and left another Indian man critically wounded. A reading of Baumhammers "Free Market Party" website reveals that he opposes all third-world immigration because he fears that white, European-descent people will become a minority in this country. President Clinton referred to the case in calling for renewed attention to hate crimes legislation currently languishing in Congress.

For more information, read the articles that started the debate:

Immigration Attorney Goes On Shooting Spree
The Baumhammers case viewed by Immigration Guides Jennifer and Peter Wipf

Another Pittsburgh Shooting Spree
A look at the Baumhammers case from Race Relations Guide Kimberly Hohman.

Conspiracies and Extremism Guide Marc Fisher, an opponent of hate crime laws, wrote a feature opposing President Clinton's call for more hate crime legislation, and I wrote an article supporting the legislation, and so the debate was born.

Opposing Hate Crime Laws Supporting Hate Crime Laws

Dear Mr. President...
Conspiracies and Extremism Guide Marc E. Fisher argues against hate crime laws in an open letter to President Clinton.

Blinded By Hate
A look at the renewed call for Hate Crimes legislation in the wake of the Baumhammers case, from your Guide.

The Hate Debate
Conspiracies and Extremism Guide Marc Fisher disagrees with "Blinded By Hate" and worries that criminalizing thoughts instead of actions goes too far.
The Hate Debate: Reply
Women's Issues Guide Karen Gould compares "hate" to "premeditation" and looks at hate crimes vs terrorism.
The Hate Debate - Part 2
Marc addresses five points: Equality of crime victims; psychological trauma; enforcement; local authorities' indifference; and the treatment of minor crimes as hate crimes.
Marc's Forum
The Hate Debate: Reply 2
Karen addresses Marc's points, questions some of his conclusions, and adds some questions of her own.
Karen's Forum
Previous About.com Commentary on Hate Crimes
Opposing Hate Crime Laws Supporting Hate Crime Laws
Hate Crime Means Thought Crime
Civil Liberties Guide J.D. Tuccille looks at the call for more hate-crime legislation in the wake of the murder of Matthew Shepard.
Civil Liberties Forum
Wyoming Murder Sparks Hate Crimes Debate
About.com Law Guide Paul Reed argues that the true value of hate crime laws - prosecuting offenders for the harassment and intimidation caused by repeated minor crimes.
Law Forum
The Absurdity of "Bias Crime" Laws
About.com Crime/Punishment Guide Bill Bickel questions whether one of the brutal murders of James Byrd deserves a lesser penalty simply because he wasn't a bigot.
Crime/Punishment Forum

Hate Crimes
Gay/Lesbian Issues Guide Deborah Levinson looked at hate crimes after the outrage from Shepard's murder dies down, and found little had changed.
Gay/Lesbian Issues Forum

Hate Crimes and Thought Crimes
Conspiracies and Extremism Guide Marc Fisher examines the call for hate crime legislation in the wake of Matthew Shepard's murder.
Conspiracies and Extremism Forum
Hate Crimes Legislation
President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno spoke out on pending hate crimes legislation even before the Baumhammers rampage. A report from Race Relations Guide Kimberly Hohman.
Race Relations Forum

More Information

The Baumhammers case

Five Killed in Shooting Rampage
First coverage from CNN

Shooting spree suspect will use insanity defense
CNN's coverage of Baumhammers' lawyer's statement.

Shooting Suspect's Web Page Back Online
Report from CNN on Baumhammers' web site.

Research

Hate Crimes Legislation
Pending legislation relating to Hate Crimes.

Civilrights.org: Hate Crimes
Extensive information about hate crimes, from Civilrights.org

Hate Crimes
Links from Race Relations Guide Kimberly Hohman

Hate Crimes: State Laws
A clickable map to each state's hate crimes laws, from MSNBC

The Human Rights Campaign: Hate Crimes
Commentary on the pending Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Politics: Hate Crimes
Links from Gay/Lesbian Issues Guide Deborah Levinson

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