Ken Leslie on Fox Toledo’s Talk Back and homeless hate crimes resolution…
If you haven’t yet watched, last night on FOX Toledo, Ken Leslie was on with Laura Emerson for Talk Back and Shaun Hegarty had a piece on the resolution passed by Toledo City Council Pushing for stronger homeless law. I’m behind in my watching, I just had the chance to watch and I recommend both. As I mentioned earlier, that’s why I was at yesterday’s Council meeting since Ken asked me to write the resolution that was passed. It’s also something I feel very strongly about and I hope other Ohio cities will join us and that the General Assembly will support legislation that not only focuses on the penalty aspect but the public education aspect.
A majority of the crimes committed against those who are unhoused are done by those under 25 with the motivation for harming another human being labeled as “thrill seeking” — As Ken so eloquently stated, this resolution sends a message:
To the state legislature it says: We, the community of Toledo Ohio want to have Ohio matter to those who matter.
To those who desire to harm the weakest among us, they will hear that in our community it will not stand, because in our community, everyone Matters in Toledo Ohio.
And to those, the unhoused citizens of our community who are our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers, it says have faith and hope, because in the City of Toledo, you are the community, you really do matter.
If you get a chance to tune in tomorrow during the 4:00 p.m. newscast, it’s my turn for a Rant and Rave, it’s also on Tent City…If you miss it then? It will be online later tomorrow.
An assault is an assault. Attempting to determine the motivation for, beliefs underlying, or reasons the crime occurred, and then attaching a more severe punishment because of the thinking behind the act is wrong.
Every citizen has the right equal to protection. Every assault should be treated as equally egregious, and the status of the victim (adult victim) combined with an attempt to determine the prejudices of the offender in order to increase the consequence, is not only impractical but unconstitutional.
While certain classes of victim exist which may rationalize different post-crime assistance, legislating greater punishments because of the class of the adult victim, or the alleged prejudices and bias of the offender, is improper.
TAHL
October 29th, 2009 at 8:52 amOh, come on A-Hole, with the logic of this we can then make the assumption that it is not so bad to assault landowners. If they own more than one home, oh boy, it’s open hunting season right? Landlords are basically free game and maybe there will be rewards involved?
I agree though. Assault is assault.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pmI also hope that other Ohio cities join in this.
October 29th, 2009 at 2:00 pm