“Armed Gays Don’t Get Bashed”
The shit these people come up with. In a bizarre opposite marriage of viewpoints, The Washington Independent is reporting that “a small number of Senate Republicans” are looking to pad the Matthew Shephard Hate Crimes Prevention Act with a conceal-and-carry gun provision:
“It makes sense for a group of people who would be protected by hate crime legislation to support something that would let them defend themselves before or after the crime,” said one Republican Senate aid familiar with the discussions. “It’s relevant, and we want to work together with gay groups to get the message out.”
Because when crimes against gays are punished harsher than regular crimes, only the gays will have guns? Whatever, I don’t understand Congress.
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4:16 pm
I never understand how a concealed weapon is going to deter crime, on an individual basis. If a gun is concealed, no one knows it you have it by definition.
Gays need to carry big, gaudy rifles in the open if they want to deter hate crimes. I’m thinking of a phallis-shaped, pink and chrome “man cannon” here.
6:07 pm
So, Conrad, funny suggestion, but on the serious part:
A concealed weapon is thought to deter crime because no one knows you have it. This, of course, does not work in all places or circumstances. If you’re a gentrifying hipster in Shaw (congrats on your progressive choice of neighborhood!), you probably assume that the guy walking down the street does not have a gun (despite a lot of reasons to believe otherwise in the summer months, see the MPD 3rd District listserv).
But if you grew up in a state where carrying a sidearm or keeping a handgun in your glove compartment, for cultural reasons, is not uncommon (let’s say, Oklahoma, where I spent some time), then you might assume a much greater likelihood that any given person is carrying a weapon. As a result, you might think twice before attacking anyone, because given a gun-toting culture and a concealed weapons law, there’s a decent chance your victim is carrying and you don’t won’t know it ’til he shoots.
There are obviously good arguments against these laws, too (like, um, that the police also don’t know who’s packing heat). But that’s the argument for it. See, it’s not so hard giving the other side some thoughtful consideration, after all!
6:18 pm
The concept of hate crimes is ridiculously misguided anyway. I think most people agree that the punishment for battery and murder should not change based on the victim’s immutable traits.
But the republican’s tactic is somewhat clever, one they used to help kill the D.C. “voting rights” bill in Congress. I’m trying to figure out what the democratic equivalent to that tactic would be. What could the democrats insert into any bill to absolutely guarantee its failure?
8:00 pm
Gender Studies, I understand your argument (even without the condescension!) Read what I wrote. On an individual basis, carrying a concealed weapon does not act as a deterrent because it does nothing to change the perceived level of gun ownership in the community. Were everyone to carry a concealed weapon, the perception would change. Until it does, you can only increase deterrence by carrying a visible weapon.
M, I disagree. One sentencing guideline (among many) should be what effects the crime has on society. While all violence has negative social impacts, hate crimes have the additional effect of terrorizing communities of people. Therefore it’s appropriate to punish them more severely.
8:55 pm
Ignorance is bliss. Perhaps Amanda should check the Parker Six case that ended with the Heller decision bringing some sanity to the gun discussion. Anyone familiar with the cases knows that a gay man who thwarted a gay bashing by being armed (in another city) was one of the original plaintiffs. Or perhaps just check out Pink Pistols.
9:40 pm
That’s not how hate crimes work, M. There isn’t a harsher crime because you murder a minority, but if you attack someone BECAUSE of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation. It protects white, male, christian, heteros too.