Hate Crimes...Over The Top, Or Not?

I have mixed feelings over this issue. There are really good arguments for both sides of this.

First, It looks like the Sand Point Judge abrogated her duty, in slapping the hand of the man, (not boy) that criminally assaulted a minor girl.

Secondly, is the issue of hate crimes. The debate can swing to and fro, but it appears to me that mebbe the pendulum has swung too far again.

To attach a "I hate you because," (choose your own category)to the crime, in many cases raises the level of what normally would be a misdemeanor to the level of a felony.

Not because the injury was egregious, but because your motives were politically incorrect.

In the case of the injured teen, the charge should have been aggravated assault, a felony.

To re-classify this to a federal hate statute, might or might not fly. Definitely, an appeal, or civil suit is in order.

For the higher purpose of designating simple assault as a hate crime, elevating it to felony status, needs a very lot of discussion...