Opinion: Hate-crime laws: Knee jerk reactions or justice?

By intensifying a crime's punishment merely because of the victim's lifestyle, we perpetrate the very sin we claim to hate; discrimination and prejudice.

ARLINGTON, Va. (Catholic Online) - Last week marked the 11-year anniversary of the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard. Since his unfortunate death many politicians have called for justice to be served by making it easier for the FBI to intercede on behalf, or in spite, of local law enforcement.

In a current bill, which just passed through the US House on Thursday, October 08, 2009, the FBI would investigate crimes where the victims were subject to prejudice that motivated the crime. Many legislators are upset that the House bill was attached to "must-pass" defense bill, rather than as a stand alone bill where it would receive proper scrutiny.

With the current political climate prime for change, the liberal members of Congress seem to have forced a bill that holds only certain victims worthy of additional standards of justice other people are not. The problem is this: hate crime legislation devalues the impact of crime on victims not protected under these types of acts.

The life and death of Matthew Shepard, in brief

Matthew Shepard, the legislation's name-sake, was a young homosexual student studying political science and international relations at the University of Wyoming.

One night, Shepard was at a bar drinking with friends when he encountered two young men named Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Both McKinney and Henderson were heavy drug users and dealers of methamphetamine.

As part of a robbery attempt, these men tied Shepard to a fence post, tortured him, and beat him.
Shepard remained tied to that fence post for 18 hours before he was discovered and rushed to the hospital. He died a few days later on October 12, 1998.

Misplaced authority and priority

The death of Matthew Shepard is a tragedy. Anyone with blood in their veins and a soul worth mentioning understands that this was a horrifying crime, the effects of which no mother should ever have to endure. Unfortunately, while emotions run high, politicians often get in a hurry to go nowhere fast. These types of bills do nothing to satisfy justice, except give preferential treatment to homosexuals and potentially silence people of faith from expressing their belief that homosexual behavior is sinful.

As founder of Focus on the Family James Dobson said in 2007 about a similar bill before the Congress, the bill would "muzzle people of faith who dare to express their moral and biblical concerns about homosexuality." House Republican leader John Boehner just recently referred to the bill as "radical social policy."

Preferential treatment

When society deems crime with one motivation more heinous than crime committed with another motivation, are we alienating victims of crime who do not fit those categories?

God values and loves all people. He not only wishes for all to come and be protected by His grace, but also that we would treat each other with the love He has for us. In fact, He died with the purpose that we might all come to Him and live the life He calls us to live.

A crime against a homosexual is no worse than a crime against anyone else. The pain in the heart of Christ is the same regardless of the victim's demographic. By intensifying a crime's punishment merely because of the victim's lifestyle, we perpetrate the very sin we claim to hate; discrimination and prejudice.

A mother's pain

It comes as no surprise that Matthew Shepard's mother, Judy Shepard, has been campaigning long and hard for her son's death to be brought to light. Through The Matthew Shepard Foundation she works for acceptance of homosexuality, rather than tolerance. The Bible does not permit Christians to love sin while loving the sinner. Scripture mandates that Christians hate sin, while loving the person who commits them.

She deserves our compassion and prayers. Though Christians cannot support her in her efforts to make homosexuality an acceptable lifestyle, we can certainly support her hope that all would realize the damaging effects of hate. Matthew Shepard was not the only victim on that cold October night. His mother will walk the rest of her days with a hole in her heart. Let us pray that Christ fill that hole in her heart with His love and guide us all into the way of peace.

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A contributor to BreakPoint, blogger for The Point, and speaker living in Arlington, VA, Billy Atwell writes and speaks on matters relating to a Christian Worldview. From the perspective of a two-time cancer survivor he encourages those afflicted with pain and struggling with faith. He earned a B.S. in political science and a B.A. in philosophy from East Carolina University.

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