system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do the States in the US need "Sexual Orientation Hate Crime Laws" when there are Crime laws on the books?

I'm so confused on this: Isn't it simply a crime to beat the shit out of someone? Regardless of someone's sexual orientation, it's a crime to be beaten shitless, for example. 

So... Should it be a MORE special crime because someone is gay? 

Don't hate... Just sincere and want to know why gays or blacks, whatever... should have additional Hate laws when there are laws on the books!

I'm old enough to know that we can't legislate assholes. Everyone has them. Some are just bigger than others and likely to act out violently on their prejudices... 

Hep me unnerstan!!!!!
gpt
the hate crime laws define the **motive** of the act. beat someone up for x,y&z, versus, beating then up for simply being gay. 

Chances are if someone's only motivation for committing an assault is that the victim is gay or black, they will repeat this behavior *without any real motivation* making it likely to be repeated and necessitating a harsher deterrent. 

>Chief Justice Rehnquist's words, "this conduct is thought to inflict greater individual and societal harm.... bias-motivated crimes are more likely to provoke retaliatory crimes, inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and incite community unrest."