Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina and Wyoming are the only states in the country with no hate crime laws.
in the United States, according to the FBI. In 2017, there were 7,175 hate crime incidents reported across the country. Over 1,000 of those incidents involved a victim who was targeted due to their sexual orientation and a majority of those crimes were against gay men.
Such a legislative battle took place in Indiana earlier this year, resulting in a controversial hate crime law with no explicit protections based on age, gender identity or sexual orientation. While the GOP-dominated state Senate excluded such language from the measure, judges are not limited to the list when determining sentencing.
The few states that have no hate crime laws are likely facing increased pressure to move forward with such measures following a string of deadly mass shootings in California, Texas and Ohio that left 34 people dead. The El Paso shooter was targeting the Latino community when he opened fire at a local Walmart, killing 22 people. Authorities say the gunman may face hate crime charges in addition to capital murder charges.
"People should not be targeted for who they are," Hutchinson told the Arkansas Sheriffs Association."That constitutes a crime of hate and they should not be targeted for it, and there should be enhanced penalties for it."In 2000, the state did manage to pass a hate crimes measure but it was eventually struck down by the Georgia Supreme Court for being"constitutionally vague." Nearly two decades later, the state has still not managed to pass a hate crimes law.
A demonstrator holds a sign reading"Stop the Hate" at a protest against President Trump's visit following a mass shooting, which left at least 22 people dead, on August 7, 2019 in El Paso, Texas. Protesters also called for gun control and denounced white supremacy. A handful of states in the U.S. still do not have any laws against hate crimes.Hate crimes are rising in South Carolina, according to federal statistics, but lawmakers still have not moved forward on a hate crime law.
A South Carolina sheriff also lamented the lack of such a law after his deputies were unable to charge a teenager who made videos in which he used racial slurs and threatened to shoot black people.
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