So then certain motives carry stiffer penalties. Like if I stab someone of a different race and kill him, would I get a harsher sentence if it turned out at some point I called him some nasty racist slur? Or if I raved anti-homo stuff at a homo before killing him. Is this like "malice aforethought"?
It seems to me that assigning motive is a pretty dodgy thing.
You stabbed Mr. Green because you wanted his wallet.
Or, you stabbed Mr. Green because he has green skin.
The second case is a "hate crime," OK.
Why not just call it "racist crime" or "race crime"? "Hate" is way too vague.
So then certain motives carry stiffer penalties. Like if I stab someone of a different race and kill him, would I get a harsher sentence if it turned out at some point I called him some nasty racist slur? Or if I raved anti-homo stuff at a homo before killing him. Is this like "malice aforethought"?
It seems to me that assigning motive is a pretty dodgy thing.
You stabbed Mr. Green because you wanted his wallet.
Or, you stabbed Mr. Green because he has green skin.
The second case is a "hate crime," OK.
Why not just call it "racist crime" or "race crime"? "Hate" is way too vague.