Reply #9: so, what do conservatives think of hate crime laws NOW?

[NorthernSpy]

Hate crime laws aid anyone who is singled out for violence because of his race.

Punching someone because he is black or white is really not the same as punching someone because you think he's an asshole. Violence motivated by race hatred is especially dangerous, because its perpetrators exploit ready-made faultlines and group sentiments, which amplifies any given incident beyond the specific individuals involved and magnifies the damage to the society in general.

It always used to amaze me how many people kept whining about how "unfair" hate crime laws are.

Until they learned that these laws are written to promote justice for anyone who is the victim of racially motivated attack -- and not just for those categories of victims that conservatives resent and despise.