Hate Crime: Are The Special Laws Necessary

I have chosen the research topic “Are Hate Crime Laws Necessary?”. I am all for the potential passing of hate crime laws, being an African-American teenager myself. The articles that I have decided to go with to further my argument and agreement in the creation of hate crime laws are: “Used Fairly, Hate Crime Laws Deter Violent Crime” by Chris Anders, “Bias Laws Ensure Action Against Hate” by Wade Henderson, and “Even Nonviolent Crime Needs To Be Fought” by Hayley Gorenburg. In this essay, all three of my choices will be summarized. Hate crime laws are extremely necessary because they’ll stop the privileged from harassing others, send a stronger message around the world that committing a hate crime is not right, and ensure that everyone can walk freely without fear of being attacked.

“Used Fairly, Hate Crime Laws Deter Violent Crime” by Chris Anders simply states that yes, committing a crime because a person may be different from you needs legislative action, but do not put free speech on the line because of this. I agree with the portion about needing laws to stop hate crimes, but I disagree about the free speech notion. Free speech doesn’t mean to use slurs or throw your nationalism, superiority, or privilege in my face, which Anders is practically saying is okay. Anders states that hate crime laws can be good, but they can also become an addition to hate crimes being committed. Additionally, he says that crime must be adjusted to punish the crime, especially if you do not have proof that the crime was an act of discrimination. In the next paragraph, I will be summarizing Wade Henderson’s “Bias Laws Ensure Action Against Hate”.In Wade Henderson’s “Bias Laws Ensure Action Against Hate”, he confirms that hate crimes are personal, pointing out flaw because an individual may not be of the same race, gender, religion, sexuality, or gender identity as you. He believes that passing these laws can shape the attitudes toward people who commit crimes like this, and potentially make them change the way they see others. In addition to saying this, Henderson states that the laws are not to silence one’s beliefs, because he simply cannot do that, but to merely make them adjust the way they see the world. Strong enforcement of these laws can deter the violence is communities that cause widespread chaos. These laws can influence the negative attitudes that cause hate crimes to occur. In the following paragraph, I will be summarizing “Even Nonviolent Crimes Need To Be Fought” by Hayley Gorenburg.Hayley Gorenburg writes the article “Even Nonviolent Crimes Need To Be Fought” to emphasize the ongoing hatred being spread for being of different sexuality. She goes on the say that this phenomenon has been going on decades, and shouldn’t have to only be addressed when someone dies because of it. “ It’s possible to strike deep at one’s core without a bullet or a knife blade,” Gorenburg writes, and this means that a knife and a bullet is not the only thing that can interfere with a person’s happiness. It can also be the constant passing of laws that silence homosexual beings. She believes that every form of hate against anyone in the LGBTQ+ community should be acknowledged, none left out. Everyone person of this community should be encouraged to be who they are.Hate crime laws are extremely necessary because they’ll stop the privileged from harassing others, send a stronger message around the world that committing a hate crime is not right, and ensure that everyone can walk freely without fear of being attacked. All three of my articles thoroughly depict that I am all for the creation of hate crime laws. I should not have to fear being black in America and being attacked or even killed without justice. Why should anyone else have to? There are laws for everything else except the protection of minorities and homosexual people. Hopefully, the day comes where everyone can walk together in harmony and peace.