We’re All Victims Now!

[George_S]

Plea bargain in anti-Christian shooting raises questions about fairness of hate-crime laws

by Nick Schou

How can two young men with no previous felonies be sentenced to a total of 40 years in state prison for firing seven shots at a building from a moving car—without causing a single death or injury?

It’s simple. If the target is an evangelical Christian drug rehabilitation center and the two suspects are members of a black metal rock band whose lyrics call for the murder of all Christians, then presto, you’ve got a bona-fide hate crime that automatically doubles the prison sentence in question.

The scenario isn’t hypothetical. On Jan. 19, a drive-by shooting occurred outside Teen Challenge, a Christian drug rehabilitation clinic in downtown Santa Ana. A few weeks later, police arrested two suspects, Raymond Shipley and Benito Contreras, both 22-year-old members of a Riverside-area black metal band, Sol Evil. Defense attorneys for the men claimed their clients were drunk and simply trying to scare a mutual friend, a former band member sleeping in the building when the shots were fired (see "A Case of Morder," March 28).

A major piece of evidence against the two suspects was an interview posted on the band’s website. In that interview, Sol Evil lead singer Shipley (who went by the stage name Lord Morder) stated that the band’s cause was the destruction of Christianity. "We want to inspire people to murder ALL Christians!!!" Shipley stated. "All the members of our horde believe that Christianity must be destroyed."

http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/03/50/news-schou.php

[2ndPlatoon]

1. I don't know about you but..

I don't like the idea of someone firing guns at buildings...

[DrWeird]

3. So you're saying you're a pacifist?

nt

[DrWeird]

2. Awful lot of Satan Worshippers skinning cats recently too.

And a whole bunch of teenagers have been going around emulating video games.

What's the world coming to?

[MatrixEscape]

4. Welcome ...

to the United States of Draconia!

No crime too small! We screw em' all! Victim-less crime? Well, do THRICE the time.

We have beds to fill people ... LOTS of them. Were building those privatized prisons and maximize profits on the human commodity! Prison is good for America.

Coming soon to a prison near you: More chain gangs and cheap, prison labor. Pay for your meals. Exiting new devices that would make a Spanish Inquisitioner blush ... and much, much more.