Briefly stepping outside my comfort zone: I wonder whether those who objected to "hate crimes" penalties--on the basis that all violent person-against-person crimes are hate crimes--were right? Yes, the tag is useful to enhance penalties for "minor" personal attacks (because the U.S. just doesn't have enough people in prison for extended periods)..
...but it strikes me that arguing over whether multiple first-degree murders are or are not hate crimes is odd. They're *always* hate crimes, even if they don't involve religious/ethnic/gender/etc. categories.
- walt crawford