Andrew Sullivan

About the author: Andrew Sullivan, the former editor of the New Republic, is a contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine and the author of Virtually Normal.

Hate is a vague, complex, and highly personal emotion and does not pertain to a particular set of beliefs. Thus, labeling violent acts committed against certain victims as "hate crimes" is deeply problematic and possibly unconstitutional. Moreover, "equal opportunity" crimes such as random acts of violence pose a bigger threat to society. They occur much more frequently than hate crimes, are no less brutal, and threaten the safety of entire communities, not just particular groups. Violence is a serious problem that must be addressed, but hate is an immutable aspect of a free society that can only be reduced, not eradicated. The concept of...