ABSTRACT
Public discourse on hate crimes and the laws intended to control them often reflects strong opinions. While most would prefer that these crimes did not occur at all, not everyone agrees with how to respond to them when they do occur. As we have learned in Chapter 3, some question the validity of hate crime laws, either seeing them as compromising constitutionally protected liberties or as laws that are potentially divisive—valuing the victimization of some over others. Still others see hate crime laws as legitimate tools that are necessary for the deterrence of these uniquely destructive acts.
