What is a Hate Crime?

[Frank]

Gunman Wounds Two in Los Angeles Synagogue

by Ernie Singer
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(IsraelNN.com)
Los Angeles police say two Jewish men in their 30s were shot in the legs as they were about to enter a synagogue in the North Hollywood section of Los Angeles Thursday morning. A man described as an African-American with a handgun entered the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic synagogue at about 6:20 a.m. Thursday and opened fire. The victims were taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Police are investigating the shooting as a hate crime. The Los Angeles Times says police arrested a man near the synagogue, but the sources say they don't believe he was the gunman.

The newspaper adds that police officials have alerted other synagogues around Los Angeles about the shooting, and police have stepped up patrols at Jewish religious institutions. Detectives are trying to determine if the gunman acted alone or as part of a larger group.

According to the Associated Press, the wounded people had just pulled into the synagogue parking structure for morning services. Investigators said no words were exchanged between the shooter and his victims.

"Grave and shocking"
Minister of Information and Diaspora Yuli Edelstein called the event “grave and shocking.”

The attack “reminds us that anti-Semitism is alive and kicking and has no hesitation in terrorizing the Jewish people's holy of holies. We and the nations of the world must continue to fight anti-Semitism as it has already been proven that what starts with the Jews ends with other nations as well.”

The attack occurred about 16 km. away from a Jewish community center where, ten years ago, white supremacist Buford Furrow shot and wounded five people and later killed a letter carrier. Three children were among the wounded in that attack.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134131

Two shot at California synagogue
October 29, 2009

(JTA) -- Two people were shot in the legs in the parking lot of a synagogue in North Hollywood, Calif.

Los Angeles Police said the African-American suspect approached a man entering the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Synagogue for morning prayers at approximately 6:20 a.m. Thursday, according to media reports. The assailant shot the man in the leg with a handgun, then fired again and hit another man.

The synagogue is located in the San Fernando Valley's Orthodox community.

Police initially said they were investigating the incident as a hate crime, and the Los Angeles Police Department has stepped up patrols around city Jewish institutions. But law enforcmenet sources have told the Los Angeles Times that they are investigating the possibility that the attack was related to a business or personal dispute, with one victim the target and the other shot because he witnessed the attack.

A man was detained near the facility shortly after the shooting, but police have released him.
The victims, both Jewish, were reported to be in good condition after being transported to a local hospital. One was identified as Maor Ben-Nissan, 37, who owns a tile store and prays at the synagogue every morning. He immigrated to the U.S. from Israel as a child.

The Secure Community Network, the national network coordinating security for the Jewish community, said it was urging Jewish institutions to remain vigilant and revisit the security procedures they have in place until more information about the incident is known.
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/10/29/1008820/two-shot-at-calif-sy...
A terrorable thing happened in Los Angeles this morning, two men were shot while on their way to pray at morning worship service.
One story two different reports. One report tells the story, and probable cause. One paper tells half the story and adds another staory to it. One report, reports the news. One report imflames the reader? Both report are from the Israeli press. Interesting how this story is covered.

Was it a hate crime or a business deal gone bad?

[Elaine Friedland]

Frank,

Federal hate crimes law uses the general category of religion, (and does list specific religions) and hence if a Christian is physically attacked or whose property defaced because another person hates Christians, the perpetrator of the crime would be prosecuted under Federal Hate crime law (Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, enacted in 28 U.S.C. § 994 note Sec. 280003 of 1994)

[Frank]

Elaine shame on you, you have been telling me for weeks that such crimes against Jews go unpunished or not treated as hete crimes. Here in New Hampshire Christian cemeteries have been attacked stone painted and knocked down or otherwise danmaged this is not called a hate crime only vandelism. What a lwa says and how it is enforced are two very different things and you know that.

[Elaine Friedland]

Frank,

Maybe with the new law, the "vandals" can be prosecuted as perpetrators of hate crimes. However, someone has to pressure for the action to be taken.

[Elaine Friedland]

Federal law since 1969 Federal Hate Crimes Law 18 U.S.C. § 245(b)(2) uses the general category of religion in hate crimes legislation. Hence Christians are protected against hate crimes in Federal legislation. http://www.justice.gov/crt/crim/245.php As John noted above the FBI collects statistics on all hate crimes based on religious biases.