Criminal acts should be punished regardless of motive. Enhancing penalties based on what someone was thinking can lead us down a slippery slope where free speech and thought are at risk.
While intent matters, we should be careful not to let the definition of 'hate crime' get so broad that it dilutes the seriousness of real, targeted violence. Justice should be blind, not guided by identity politics.
Targeting someone because of their identity is the literal definition of a hate crime. It's concerning how often people try to downplay these acts instead of addressing the root causes of hatred and bigotry.