Another Texas Dragging

[shinerbock]

I agree they shouldn't be ignored. You said the purpose of the laws were:

"So that people of whatever race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation can live their lives without being schemed on and targeted solely because of these demographics."

If there is no evidence that hate crime laws reduce the frequency of hate crimes or generally act as a deterrent, how would they accomplish your stated purpose?

I think that purpose is a valid one, but I fail to see how hate crimes legislation furthers it.