Quote Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing View Post
They're being picked on because they're a distinctive minority. The justice system is now going to use the power of the courts and the press to persuade the mindless thugs who attack them for (whatever reason) not to attack them. And that's a good thing! I think we're all in favour of no young kids getting smashed up, brain damaged or worse just because of the way they look. Right?

They're being afforded the protection that the law also gives to other vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities, gay people and so on. To try and prevent violence and death brought upon a group of people for no other reason than they offend the sensibilities of a number of violent idiots. What part of this don't you understand?
OK, that's fine they are a minority and they are being picked on well the authorities in charge of protecting 100% of their citizens should be aware of this and offer protection. Not in the form of discriminatory laws, but just by enforcing the laws currently on record....are the laws broken? Why isn't assault being charged if someone is beaten up? Why isn't murder being charged if someone is killed?

Ethnicity & sexual orientation aren't "choices" (I guess, I mean I'm not gay so I don't understand how people come to the conclusion that they are...not an insult, I'm just saying I don't know how the process goes). Being emo/goth/punk is a CHOICE....do we see how that might be stretching these already discriminatory "hate crime" laws a bit thin? What's next "Oh, it's a hate crime if you don't invite me to your birthday party because I have low self esteem"? Or "It's a hate crime for you to have peanut butter in your lunch because I'm allergic to peanut butter...how could you, you soulless bastard?!?!"

But hey I'm a white, Anglo-Saxon, heterosexual, Christian, male....so what have I got to worry about, I mean it's not like anyone hates me