The "gay panic" defense is used a lot when the victim is transgender. In this case the judge bought the argument and handed down a ridiculous sentence. There are those who are claiming this is why we need hate-crime legislation. To them I say, no, this is why we need minimum sentencing laws.
It is the act that should be punished. What the mutant thought about the victim is irrelevant. Basing the sentence for the crime on what the criminal thought at the time is to enact thought crimes. Are we living in a Brave New World?
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