"Hate-Crimes Bills Gain Support In South Carolina, Arkansas"

I tend to not be in favor of these things. But: (a) I don't have the kind of ground-level knowledge that one probably ought to have to properly assess them, and (b) there are precedents for some kinds of crimes receiving extended penalties--e.g. racketeering (via RICO). They'd have to be applied fairly--that is, without regard to which races are involved in which capacity--and I'm among those who tend to doubt that they're applied that way. I'm especially skeptical now that we're in the midst of the Woketarian crusades/jihad/inquisition... But I'm persuadable on the issue.