Discuss the confusion between hate crimes and terrorism. What does White suggest as the best way to approach the definitional problem?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• According to Levitas, hate crimes include certain violent right-wing extremists, the Ku Klux Klan, paramilitary organizations (or militias), abortion clinic bombers, violent anti-immigrant groups, and others who are violent in the name of race or ethnicity.
• Many police officers would agree with this analysis, but it confuses the issue of domestic terrorism.
• Specifically, it brings up the problem of differentiating between hate groups and terrorist groups, and hate crime and terrorism.
• The term hate crime is frequently used in conjunction with domestic terrorism.
• Hate crime is a relatively new term defined by federal law and dozens of state statutes; it is a legal definition, not a manifestation of terrorism.
• Mark Hamm says that a hate crime is an illegal act designed to target a particular social group.
• The issue of hate crime complicates the understanding of domestic terrorism.
• Perhaps the best way to approach the definitional problem is to remember that terrorists commit crimes when they conduct operations.
• They are armed robbers, bombers, kidnappers, and murderers, but most armed robbers, kidnappers, and murderers are not terrorists.
• The same applies to hate crime – hate crimes involve specific violations of criminal law, it may or may not be terrorism.
• Terrorists always commit crimes; criminals rarely commit terrorism.