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CaptainCanadia · 41-45, M
Well, the first is motive changes the charge. First degree murder is worse than third degree. Hate crimes are also a special sort of crime that has impact beyond the victim.
If I kill someone for sleeping with my wife, it's a single incident limited to my experience with that person. If I kill someone for being gay, every gay person who is aware of that crime has a legitimate reason to be afraid of me and others.
Hate crimes also typically tie into a greater worldview. If one person is killing people for being gay, it's likely other people have that same worldview and may be encouraged to follow suit.
The history of lynching is a good indication at this kind of thing when its at its worst. Or for example, pogroms against Jewish people.
If I kill someone for sleeping with my wife, it's a single incident limited to my experience with that person. If I kill someone for being gay, every gay person who is aware of that crime has a legitimate reason to be afraid of me and others.
Hate crimes also typically tie into a greater worldview. If one person is killing people for being gay, it's likely other people have that same worldview and may be encouraged to follow suit.
The history of lynching is a good indication at this kind of thing when its at its worst. Or for example, pogroms against Jewish people.