Posted 4/25/2007 05:12:00 PM by Douglas

Anyone that followed this story over the past year knows how brutally vicious David Ritcheson's attackers were, and how callus they were to leave him for dead in the yard. As horrible as that was and the fact that he will most probably never forget the emotional trauma (or the colostomy bag he'll deal with), I think it's fair to say the State of Texas was quite fair with their punishment.

Tuck, 19, and Keith Turner, 18, both of Spring, eventually were convicted of aggravated sexual assault for attacking Ritcheson in the backyard. Tuck was given a life sentence, Turner 90 years.

Can anyone say justice wasn't done? What else could be done? Enter the "Hate Crime" laws, or as I like to call it, the Thought Police:

Today, Ritcheson will be in Washington, D.C., to testify before a congressional committee about why he feels federal hate crime laws need to be expanded. As much as he doesn't want to be a "poster child," Ritcheson is convinced he can do some good.

The FBI had no grounds to investigate the attack because it occurred in a private yard. Under federal law, perpetrators can be charged with a hate crime only if the event occurs in an area of public access.

Ritcheson will testify in support of a bill that would allow people to be charged with a hate crime even if the incident happens at a home or other private property.

Wow. We all know what Hate Crime laws do: Either overzealous prosecutors another chance at high-profile suspects when the "real" trial acquits them, or allows prosecutors the justification to seek stiffer penalties in race sensitive trials. Both should be illegal.

Guess what? Beating the shit out of someone and kicking a pipe up their Rove is already illegal, and two young men found guilty of such acts won't see another day of freedom until they're very, very old. I'd say this is a perfect case to exemplify why Hate Crime laws aren't necessary, and in fact, inflammatory. The State of Texas locked these monsters up and are preparing to throw away the key, so I fail to see how additional statues would do anything the State isn't already doing.

Labels: Ritcheson