More On Hate Crimes

Always remember that when conservative bloggers whine that hate crimes laws are only used to persecute anti-Mulsim bigots, they're lying to you.

They know they're lying to you, and they're proud that they're lying to you.

Let's look at the facts.

Illinois, July 8, 2007:

Local officials have called in the FBI to investigate whether a small fire at a Macomb church may have been a hate crime.

A neighbor used a garden hose to put out the fire at the First Presbyterian Church before dawn Friday, and it wasn't until later in the day that police discovered a swastika painted on the door and the letters "KKK" written on some adjoining bricks.

California, July 4, 2007:

A man has been sentenced to nine months in jail for pasting swastikas on the entrance of Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss' San Fernando Valley office.

A city attorney's spokesman says Adonis Irwin also received three years probation after pleading no contest to vandalism, posting a swastika on private property and a hate crime charge.

Georgia, July 1, 2007:

The incidents at the three Washington County churches occurred within 24 hours and authorities believe the fires and gun shots could be related and possibly motivated by hate, said Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine.

Holly Springs and Mount Sinai are attended by black members while Mount Moriah is attended by white members, Oxendine said.

"We are strongly considering the possibility it may be the same person or persons behind (each incident)," Oxendine said.

"We are considering the possibility it could be a hate crime," he said, adding hate crimes come in several different forms aside from race, including anger against Christianity and against religion.

It is wholly unremarkable in this country for persons to be prosecuted under hate crimes laws based on acts of vandalism (and other crimes) committed against Christians and Jews. The questions to ask are: Why are these bloggers and their followers lying, and why do hate crimes laws make them so nervous?