'Hate' is subjective: whether speech or crime
Dear Minister Goldsmith,
'Hate' is an important term referencing a powerful emotion. Where individuals in our society are targets of hate, we must work to counter this hate and promote tolerance and inclusiveness.
'Hate' is a powerful term, but an unavoidably subjective one; this is true whether it is used against word or action.
It is not the role of our criminal justice system or laws more generally to regulate this emotion.
We have insisted that 'hate' speech laws would simply introduce a means to censor unpopular opinions. We applaud your decision to stop work on these proposals.
'Hate' crime laws suffer from the same weaknesses and have no place in a liberal democracy that values freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the rule of law.
Introducing 'hate' crime laws would see police and the judiciary tasked with deciding if one individual acted more criminally than another despite breaking the very same law, based on their motivations not their actions.
We have no interest in defending criminal actions. If an individual breaks the law, they must be held accountable. But the law must apply impartially, regardless of who breaks it. There aren't 'right' reasons to break the law, or reasons that are 'more wrong' than others.
Breaking the law for 'hate' shouldn't stand alone as a category any more than breaking the law for 'love'. Who is impartial enough to determine objectively when either of these would apply?
Keep our laws impartial, the rule of law strong, and our speech and consciences free.
We call on Hon. Paul Goldsmith, the Minister of Justice, to reject all advice to develop 'hate' crime legislation that would introduce unacceptable subjectivity into our laws, and be used to target unpopular perspectives and unorthodox beliefs.
Like this to spread the word
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Vin Carey signed 2024-05-16 15:17:18 +1200
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Belinda Goldfinch signed 2024-05-16 13:16:07 +1200Have some backbone Mr Goldsmith ffs
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Dion Smith signed via Martin Daly 2024-05-16 12:50:23 +1200
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Derek Hartley signed 2024-05-16 12:30:30 +1200Stop wasting money on sloppy Law Making. This will rapidly become another means of suppressing dissenting views. At the hands of a vocal & manipulative minority. Or government intent on suppressing awkward questions . Witness the behaviour of the last two governments
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Nancy Donald signed 2024-05-16 11:36:09 +1200
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M Clapham signed 2024-05-16 07:12:54 +1200
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Linda Baxter signed 2024-05-16 03:12:46 +1200
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Sandra Beltman signed 2024-05-16 00:17:50 +1200Instead of spending money on ‘protecting’ groups from ‘hate’ speech… perhaps the healthier approach in a strong democratically driven society, would be to improve citizens critical thinking capacities through education, public debate, modeling and role-modelling social outcomes from free expression (and healthy debate) versus telling people what to think and say because of a possible offense taken. We are all capable of ‘taking offense’ (at even the most ‘trivial’ of judgements or statements)..at which level is it ‘correct’ to enforce?… or …we can say – “that’s your opinion, not my own.” Every individual has to learn to make their own informed choices on what to think and believe. AND NOT be drawn into violent action, because of ‘mob rule’. Learn to stand in your truth. Think. Speak.
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Fiona Judd signed 2024-05-15 22:46:10 +1200
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Bob Treadwell signed 2024-05-15 22:15:33 +1200Who will be the arbiter of what qualifies as hate speech? The worst possible people will want to do it while anybody who could do it well will be too intelligent to get involved!!
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S M signed 2024-05-15 21:07:18 +1200
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Markq Turner signed 2024-05-15 20:17:38 +1200Ecc chpt 3 verse 1-8, kjv, if God had allowed for this among men, who is a man that thinks he can suppress what God has allowed ?
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Barbara Callender signed 2024-05-15 19:17:30 +1200
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Isaac Lassing signed 2024-05-15 18:46:46 +1200
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Mark Kalksma signed 2024-05-15 18:06:26 +1200
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Andy Elvey signed 2024-05-15 17:35:43 +1200
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Tim Appleton signed 2024-05-15 17:29:51 +1200
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Shirley Wawatai signed 2024-05-15 16:15:57 +1200
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Alexander Gurevitch signed 2024-05-15 09:30:31 +1200
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Graeme Anderson signed 2024-05-15 09:01:02 +1200
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Gaynir Schultz signed 2024-05-15 07:23:49 +1200
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Coral Searle signed 2024-05-15 02:18:02 +1200Kick the ‘Dame’ out of her cushy, over-paid number sanctioned by Cindyboy Luxon.
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Lorraine Birchall signed 2024-05-14 11:43:36 +1200
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Lex Campbell signed 2024-05-14 09:25:53 +1200Free speech is a basic right for all people. Just because some people don’t like what you say doesn’t make this hate speech. Just differences in opinion
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Anne Aspinall signed 2024-05-14 09:09:31 +1200
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Vikki Wilmore signed 2024-05-14 03:46:43 +1200
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Steve W signed 2024-05-13 22:24:38 +1200
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Jaan Lovi signed 2024-05-13 22:23:01 +1200
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Julie Mcgaw signed 2024-05-13 22:02:46 +1200Without the freedom to use words all that’s left is violence
As a person from a violent past and up bringing this terrifies me.
We need to use all our words at times to find resolutions and work through difficult situations.
That’s life. People that take issue with words need to sort out their own issues, words are not the worst thing that can happen to you. Grow up -
Deb Aston signed 2024-05-13 20:19:55 +1200
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