“Even if it is possible to determine the mind set in which a crime is committed, is it appropriate in a free society for the government to punish people for their inner motivations, [or] feelings?” (Barbara Dority). When a court decides to label a c

The driving force which impels a person to commit any crime is known as the “motive.” It is why they did it. In most cases the motive can really be summed up in one word such as greed or jealousy. “Intent” on the other hand is what a person intends to do. They intend to rob the store, or they intend to kill a person. For the same intent there is a endless list of motives. The intent is the independent variable in a crime equation. It will stay the same while everything else can change. This is why crime is only based on the intent. “Motive, on the other hand, is largely irrelevant to the criminal act and to the punishment the act receives” (Samuel Francis, 43). Take the “sniper shooters” of Maryland and Virginia for an example. It is not why they went on their rampage that matters, it is the result of that rampage . Why they committed this crime will net even be a factor in court. The “intent” will be on trial, not the “motive.”

In context, crime is a gross violation of the law and hate is hos

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Klux Klan, Barbara Dority, Maryland Virginia, , United Government, Samuel Francis, hate crime, criminal act, white black, crime committed, shoots kills, francis 43,