From: Michael S. Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Thu Dec 14 2000 - 08:43:45 MST
Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>
> > > > Sounds fair enough to me. Drugs/alcohol shouldn't get you out of social
> >> > responsibility, especially when voluntarily self administered.
> >> >
> >> > > Given that drugs like alcohol act to suppress the ego and
> > > > > allow the id more liberties (i.e. reduces inhibitions) this is as close
> > > > > to a thought crime as I think it is possible to go.
> > > >
> >> > Really, it's not a thought crime at all. She really said it, the real
> >> > person.
> >>
> >> If this is so, then why is court testimony under the influence of drugss
> > > deemed inadmissible?
>
> Drugs are assumed to alter perception under the law. A criminal with
> altered perceptions still is guilty of a crime, and can still be
> prosecuted. A witness with altered perceptions may not have accurate
> perceptions or memory, and thus cannot be relied upon as a witness.
> I don't believe there are any specific laws that bar such witnesses,
> but the opposing counsel would obviously raise the question of
> credibility.
Thats all I wanted to know: "altered perceptions". It also inhibits ones
ability to rationally exercise one's fifth amendment rights. While
irrevocable acts generate a permanent impact (like crashing one's car
while drunk), speaking one's mind (ones mind that has altered
perceptions) while drunk is not irrevocable, so permanent responsibility
cannot be brought to bear. Frankly, any cop who took offense enough to
consider such an epithet a hate crime I would not want to have on my
police force. The problem with making speech like this criminal is that
it turns every domestic violence situation into a hate crime, typically
by both parties. I don't know if anyone else here has ever ridden along
with cops before, (or been a party to such a domestic situation) but the
language that individuals in such situations use is most definitely
within the realm of the definition of 'hate crime' that was used in the
case described. Making speech such as this criminal is, in fact, thought
crime.
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