In Reply to: Canada law makes Bible "Hate Speech" posted by Alan on September 23, 2003 at 06:09:05:
One of the problems with new laws is that they often get taken out of context.
Hate crimes are a very ugly thing, and I don't think that anyone believes that they should go unpunished.
But, then it gets taken a step further, and we start to look at hate speech, as an instigator of hate crimes. So, that starts to become illegal too.
It relates to the same idea that yelling "FIRE" in a theatre is not free speech, because it can cause damage and injury.
The problem starts when we begin to define hate speech. To me there is a difference between expressing an opinion that homosexuality is wrong, and holding a conversation where we suggest that it would be a good idea if homosexuals were killed or injured.
We start by trying to control one problem, that involves a few extreamists, and we end up putting Grandma in jail on her way to church.
It has been a while since I checked out how Keith Henson is doing. I've written quite a bit about Henson on Crossfire in the past.
He spoke out against The Church of Scientology, and found himself convicted of a hate crime of "Interfering with a Religion". He is currently living in Canada seeking political refugee status.
More info on Henson, and how these hate crime laws can go totally bonkers:
http://www.operatingthetan.com/