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No, not our beloved flag. No crime against that. But burn the flag this man burned and get charged with a hate crime.
http://m.ketv.com/news/it-was-a-prank-s ... e/32382330

No excuse for his actions, but a felony hate crime? Really?

The link says he was charged with arson. That crime is usually a felony.

I didn't know arson could apply to a flag, but it apparently applies to property as well as buildings.

WildBill wrote:The link says he was charged with arson. That crime is usually a felony.

I didn't know arson could apply to a flag, but it apparently applies to property as well as buildings.

Arson of a $25 item? Fine, make him replace it and fine him $500. But a felony hate crime?

jmra wrote:

WildBill wrote:The link says he was charged with arson. That crime is usually a felony.

I didn't know arson could apply to a flag, but it apparently applies to property as well as buildings.

Arson of a $25 item? Fine, make him replace it and fine him $500. But a felony hate crime?

As you know from my previous posts, I believe that hate crimes are bogus and well as unconstitutional.

Burn all the gay pride flags you want so long as there yours. He took someones property and burned it, he needs to be punished. Saying it was a prank doesn't make it okay. If someone takes my property and destroys it, I would want them arrested. Hate crime though? The whole idea of hate crimes is ridiculous to me.

Javier730 wrote:Burn all the gay pride flags you want so long as there yours. He took someones property and burned it, he needs to be punished. Saying it was a prank doesn't make it okay. If someone takes my property and destroys it, I would want them arrested. Hate crime though? The whole idea of hate crimes is ridiculous to me.

And that's my issue. If he took and burned your favorites teams flag he would not be facing 5 years.

It's a deliberate overcharging to punish and intimidate those who are getting tired of all these protected classes with special privileges. At most, the crime is petty theft. What's galling is that if the rainbow flag owner had taken a neighbor's Confederate flag or US flag and burned it, there would be no arson or hate crime charges, and likely no charges at all. This is all about who gets to do what to whom and has nothing to due with the rule-of-law.

jmra wrote:

Javier730 wrote:Burn all the gay pride flags you want so long as there yours. He took someones property and burned it, he needs to be punished. Saying it was a prank doesn't make it okay. If someone takes my property and destroys it, I would want them arrested. Hate crime though? The whole idea of hate crimes is ridiculous to me.

And that's my issue. If he took and burned your favorites teams flag he would not be facing 5 years.

petty theft and/or criminal mischief would seem about right to me.

By technicality, he did purposefully set ablaze somebody's property. Hate crime though? I doubt it, and there's a difference between burning their house down because of hate, and burning their flag. The punishment must be according to the deed.