Ryan Bangert Ph. Her comments are copied below.
Hatred is wrong.
As citizens, we have a responsibility to expose the causes of hatred in our society, and seek ways by which we as a people can live together in peace. When hatred leads to violations of the rights of our fellow citizens, we have a right to expect our government to enforce the law fairly and swiftly, and punish the perpetrator of such crimes. In addition, we as citizens have the right to expect our government to treat us as equals under the law, and offer us equal protection from the criminal manifestations of hatred. Our government does not, however, have the right to decide which of its citizens will be more equal than others. Unfortunately, the passage of a hates crimes act would create this outrageous situation by affording special protections to certain individuals based on their possession of politically favored characteristics.