Do Hate Crime Laws Exclude Christians? It Seems To Be The Case– Or Lack Thereof

Perhaps you missed it, after all, there was that story about Tiger being in the proverbial woods regarding a late night Thanksgiving crash.  The story about this world famous golfer and his possible extramarital affairs have filled the airwaves to the point of absurdity.  And then, of course, there were the reality show wannabes who participated in a crash of their own, except their incident didn’t involve a car.  The couple sashayed in to a state dinner at the White House without an invitation.  This story has also received a ridiculous amount of coverage by the mainstream media to the point where legislators are now calling for special hearings concerning the matter.  I guess this is more of our tax dollars well spent.  Here’s a crazy idea: Arrest the two gate crashers, hit them with a heavy fine, and possibly tack on some jail time to boot.

In the midst of this madness, a case regarding an Ohio man who assaulted a Salvation Army bell ringer and stole a collection kettle containing an estimated $700 seemed to have been lost in the ether.  An Associated Press article reported Shawn Krieger, 44, of Toledo was arrested and being held on numerous charges related to the theft.  Toledo authorities say more charges may be pending because Krieger–after stealing the Salvation Army collection kettle–left the scene in a stolen car which was later recovered.

What struck me most about this incident is while Krieger was acting like the Grinch on steroids, as he ran away with his ill-gotten booty, he shouted out, “I hate Christmas.”  So, let’s see.  Krieger may be facing charges including assault, robbery, and auto theft, but nowhere in the coverage of this crime spree did I see a reference to Krieger’s actions being called a hate crime.

Now let’s face it.  If Krieger had robbed and assaulted two lesbians and, during his get away, screamed “I hate f _ _ _!”, the lead story in the media would have been titled “man charged with a hate crime against “gay” couple.”  But why do attacks on Christians or Christian places of worship not fall into the hate crime category?  Is our society sending a message, saying it is open season on those who believe in Christ?  Brenda Webb, who was the victim of Krieger’s alleged attack, again took up her role collecting donations for the Salvation Army in Maumee, a suburb of Toledo, the next day.  Webb is reported as saying she hoped Krieger gets the help he needs.  To me, it sounds like Krieger needs to be helped right into jail.  However, his alleged victim is certainly acting in a Christlike manner and she should be commended for doing so.

But every Christmas season either attacks on Christians or Christian symbols seem to increase.  Indeed, Christians seem to be excluded as victims of hate crimes when they are targeted because of their faith throughout the year.  Yet there has been little response from federal legislators or state lawmakers regarding the rash of anti-Christian sentiment sweeping the country.  Those who constantly remind us that religion should be separated from the actions of the state are not telling us Christians should be separated from the protection of the state, are they?  It certainly seems to be the case.

In a story I wrote for IFI, on August 15, 2007, titled, Are Christians victims of hate crimes? Urbana Police apparently say ‘no’, I detailed how a number of Christian churches in Urbana, Illinois had been vandalized or defaced with graffiti.  Yet authorities in that community did not consider the vandalism of those Christian places of worship as possible hate crimes.  But I suppose attacks on Jews in 1930’s Germany were not considered hate crimes either.  It took the Nuremburg trials after the allies defeated the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler to finally cite Hitler’s madness as crimes against humanity.

Of course, I am not comparing an attack of a Salvation Army bell ringer to the Holocaust.  But when a group is excluded from the list of those protected by the law, it often demarks the beginning of a slippery slope.

I am not a supporter of hate crime laws.  I do not know of anyone who can look into the mind or heart of an individual to determine their motive.  However, the U.S. Constitution says the law should be applied equally to everyone living in America and the last I heard Christians possessed the same rights as any other group.

I certainly hope Mr. Krieger gets what’s coming to him under the law, if he is indeed guilty of the charges facing him.  But someone needs to explain to me how an individual committing a crime against a Christian while screaming “I hate Christmas” isn’t a hate crime.  I guess I’ll leave that question to be pondered by greater thinkers than I.