Hate speech = free speech?

Question

hate speech is protected by first amendment, therefore all hate crime laws should be repealed. do u agree? why or why not?

Answer 1

It came about because Minorities are Privileged.

Answer 2

Hate crime laws should never be repealed. Consider that a hate crime is criminal act regardless, its merely emphasized by its discriminatory motives.

Answer 3

Hate speech = free speech?

Yes, hate speech along with all other speech is protected under the first amendment.  The first amendment reads as follows:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Any speech restriction laws, which have been passed, are unconstitutional, period.  The problem is that we have a public who in their ignorance allows these laws to remain in place.  

“Hate speech is protected by first amendment, therefore all hate crime laws should be repealed.”

I agree one hundred percent.  To me, these laws are clearly discriminatory.  In a country where we are all supposed to be equal in the eyes of our government, why would crimes against one group receive harsher sentences than those crimes committed against another group?  Is one group more worth of protection?  It is not the role of the government to regulate morality.  If I want to hate g**s, lesbians, blacks, or whatever, I have that right.  

Besides, we do not need these hate crime laws.  We already have laws on the books, which make terroristic activities illegal.  Targeting a group of people and then repeatedly committing crimes against that group is comparable to setting off a bomb in a crowded market.  The goal is to inspire fear in both those instances.  Any member who engages in either of these crimes, should be labeled a terrorist and sentenced accordingly.

EDIT

PFO – Please refer to my word for word quote of the first Amendment of the Bill of Rights.  Where exactly does it say that speech, which could incite violence, is NOT protected?

Bustersmycat – You say, “Not strictly true. Free speech is not unlimited, nor should it be.  

The old shouting FIRE in a theater argument.”

You are mistaken.  I could be sitting in a theater, turn to my friend and in a soft voice that only he could hear say, “fire” the whole way through the movie and not get in trouble.  My speech was not restricted.  However if I were to stand up and yell, “fire”, I would be charged with inciting a riot, not a speech violation.  It is your actions, not your words, which are being penalized.  In effect, I would be creating a situation, which poses a public danger.

Rich k – You say, “My right to freedom of expression ends at your nose.”  You are also mistaken.  I must refer you to the Bill of Rights.  If you eliminate everything, that doesn’t deal with free speech, it would read like this:  

Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.

Regardless of how much something might offend you, I have every right to say it.  Any laws, which contradict the Bill of Rights, is unconstitutional, as I have stated previously.  People need to wake up.  We have had and still are having our rights stripped from us by unconstitutional laws and people just let it happen.  Why?  I believe it is because people have become complacent.  I don’t think people really value their freedom anymore and it makes me sick.

Answer 4

The first amendment clearly states that speech that could incite violence is NOT protected.

Answer 5

Yes, they are stupid. And minorities never get charged with them.

Answer 6

My right to freedom of expression ends at your nose, Free Speech means you may express an opinion peacefully and within the law, not use it as a justification for criminal behavior.

Answer 7

Not strictly true.  Free speech is not unlimited, not should it be.

The old shouting FIRE in a theater argument.

Answer 8

Two different issues. Hate speech is protected and should be.  You have every right to hate someone.  If the government enforces laws against hate speech, then there are imposing their opinion upon you and, as such, taking away your right to protest.

Hate crimes are the stupidest laws that anyone ever came up with.   A murder is aggravated because you hated the victim.  Huh?!?!?!?!  I think the enhancement of hate crimes in actuality diminishes the minority that is killed.  It is a shame that we have to have a special law to ensure that a man, who happens to be black, and is murdered gets equal justice.  That is wrong.

Answer 9

Apply the standard to the opposition. Push back

Answer 10

How do you think "The United Caucasian College Fund" would fly? Is this hate speech, or is theirs?

Answer 11

Hate SPEECH is protected by the First Amendment. But "Hate Crimes" can include beating someone up or even killing them based on their religion, creed, ethnicity or sexual orientation. So NO, "Hate Crime" Laws should NOT be repealed.

Answer 12

Sorry.  Hate speech, literature is not protected.  You should also know that freedom of speech is not only an American right.  It is protected in many other countries too.  Most countries also protect against hate speech.

Answer 13

sounds like a plan....

Answer 14

what is hate speech to one may be common since to  another but a crime is against the law

Answer 15

Hate speech really ought to be called fear speech. Anybody who spreads fear is sad and needs counselling. Shutting down free speech is always a bad idea. It would be more useful to provide funding for the social education of racist, fundamentalist & extremist.

Answer 16

The worst thing about misinterpreted "free speech" is the blended concoction the broadcast "news" media spews around the clock. That deceives voters and has a very powerful influence on elections. The radio talk show performers is an individual choice. Turned that off years ago. It became repetitious and lost its novelty to me. Same as the TV "news" entertainers.

No, it is the fusion "news" like Fox, CNN, ABC and the rest of the mainstream media that I oppose. The remind me too much of the fine work done by Joseph Goebbels did to empower Adolph Hitler. The desperate German citizens fell for it, hook-line-and-sinker.

It could happen again.