RIP, Andrew Anthos

Shameful (0.00 / 0)

That is so sad and makes me ashamed(along with a couple of recently passed propositions) to call Michigan my home.

The end of the human race will be that it will eventually die of civilization.

 - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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by: michmark @ Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 16:04:14 PM CST

I hope they find the perp (0.00 / 0)

1. The perp is dangerous, and I hope they find him, convicted him for murder, and send him to prison for life.

2. That said, what would a "hate crime" statute do to help? I have a problem with "hate crime" statutes in general as it gets into things like "thought crime". (looking at free speech curbs at universities and Europe, particulary Germany) My concern is that the cure may lead to a slippery slope which is worse than the disease. And before anyone says anything, I don't want jerks who beat up gays (or whites, blacks, or anyone for no reason) out on the streets. IMO, we have adequate laws that can be enforced.

First Degree Murder is a life sentence.
Second Degree Murder can be a life sentence.
Assault with intent to committ murder can be a life sentence.
Assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder - 10 years
Felonious Assault - 4 years
Torture - up to life

"He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security" - Benjamin Franklin

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by: Republican Michigander @ Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 16:42:57 PM CST

Free speech curbs? (0.00 / 0)

I for one go back and forth on whether hate crime statutes are appropriate, as I think it gives an illusion of privileged victims, which is peculiar.

But I have to question you on the idea of free speech curbs in universities. Do you actually have any examples you want to cite, or are you just repeating FIRE's talking points?

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by: countvonbob @ Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 17:46:34 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I too have some reservations... (0.00 / 0)

...with respect to your first point. However, here in Michigan the current question isn't whether to have a hate crime statutes. We already have one.

The issue is whether sexual orientation ought to be a part of that hate crime statute. I maintain (strongly) that it should.

In other words, if we're going to have a hate crime statute, crimes based on sexual orientation darn well ought to be included in it.

"HAZEN S. PINGREE...He was the first to warn the people of the great danger threatened by powerful private corporations, and the first to awake to the great inequalities in taxation and to initiate steps for reforms. THE IDOL OF THE PEOPLE"

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by: Hazen Pingree @ Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 19:01:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Throw the book at 'em (0.00 / 0)

See, like I said in my comment below, the issue here for me is not about whether hate crime statutes - in general - are a good idea or not. That issue was decided years ago when they created Michigan's hate crime law - and I haven't heard anyone seriously say they're going to try to repeal it (and I hardly expect that we will). For all intensive purposes, the issue is settled.

So if we're going to have a hate crimes law, I think sexual orientation ought to be a protected class. Regardless of how John Q. Public thinks about whether it's "moral" or not to be gay, it is a reality that people are attacked because of their sexual orientation. Matthew Shepard - and now Andrew Anthos are but two examples. There is no shortage of other examples.

Hopefully you're right and this will ultimately have no effect with respect to sentencing of the maniac who killed Andrew - assuming he is caught. You're right: that bastard ought to go to prison for life.

Unfortunately, we don't know the end of this story yet. It's conceivable (not saying it's likely) problems with evidence, etc. could put the prosecutors in a weak position and force them to deal. In that event, I'd like them to have the same kind of legal arsenal/negotiating chips that they would have had if the victim had been killed because of his race or ethnicity.

"HAZEN S. PINGREE...He was the first to warn the people of the great danger threatened by powerful private corporations, and the first to awake to the great inequalities in taxation and to initiate steps for reforms. THE IDOL OF THE PEOPLE"

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by: Hazen Pingree @ Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 21:49:10 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hate crime as terrorism (4.00 / 1)

Hate crimes aren't just regular crimes, but are a form of terrorism.  The crime itself is meant to make a point meant to be digested by other members of society.  Bludgeoning someone with a pipe because they're gay is meant to send a message to other gay people that they might be next.

As for free speech, it's good to strongly protect it, but don't go down the slippery slope you mentioned.  We aren't Germany (and I can't imagine why Germany would want to ban forms of speech rooted in National Socialism), and every time you see a "free speech on campus" horror story, it's almost always something in which the matter was resolved on the side of free speech, or an instance where physical violence was involved.

Among the Trees

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by: Eric B. @ Sun Feb 25, 2007 at 07:07:06 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Yep... (0.00 / 0)

And the terrorists are Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and every other hate monger that says we should discriminate against gay people.  Fuck them all.

Putting conservatives in charge of our government makes about as much sense as GM hiring a CEO who hates cars.

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by: djtyg @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 04:22:26 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Couldn't agree more.... (0.00 / 0)

I'm more worried about the terrorists you named in your post than I am Osama Bin Laden.

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by: jimwhitaker @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 23:55:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Punishment (4.00 / 1)

It would seem to me, that "hate Crime" defines motive. 

This man was attacked, not because he presented a physical threat to the perpetrator's life, but simply that he existed as an embodied "other".  Whether the assault occurs because the victim is a different gender, a different race, a different religion, a different political party, or a different sexual-orientation, the motive remains the same...hate.

It is unconscionable that the Michigan law withholds protection for sexual orientation.  We have lost another gentle soul from our world, lost to bigotry, and the man who committed this crime should receive a judgement weighted with the Michigan Hate Crimes law. 

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by: scout @ Sun Feb 25, 2007 at 06:53:57 AM CST

With or without the change in the hate crimes law, I really like the . . . (0.00 / 0)

idea of memorializing Andrew by stringing colored lights on the capital for a brief time, paid for by private citizens who believe it's wrong to go around beating up strangers just because of how they look. How much do you think this would cost?

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by: gloworm @ Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 15:36:33 PM CST

Infuriating... (0.00 / 0)

I'm just now reading the details ... something about a guy being annoyed with his singing on the bus?  The gay community in Michigan should find the guy that did this and give him the same lead pipe treatment.  Seriously. Not a dime should be spent on such a SOB to live another day, even in prison.

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by: jimwhitaker @ Tue Feb 27, 2007 at 23:53:47 PM CST