Citing a recent murder case in the city as its basis, a proposed ordinance in City Council would increase penalties for thought crime.

Liberals already have “enhanced” the penalty for murder, which currently is death.

But just what constitutes an “enhancement” – being drawn and quartered before being killed?

The proposed ordinance would add to that by focusing on minor crimes if committed because of hatred of certain categories of persons

This silliness, of course, is just more work legislation intended to pander to certain voting blocs favored by the Democrat Party, much like the human rights ordinance.

The sponsors are five Democrats and a registered Republican.

They declare the purpose of this legislation is to enhance penalties (up to triple) which can be imposed against the commission of a code infraction based on hate. The reference to a murder case therefore was just for window dressing.

Finding “hate” requires the justice system to determine the state of a person’s mind and comes very close to being a thought crime as described in the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell. In it, people could be jailed for having thoughts not approved by Big Brother, the all-powerful dictator.

Political dissent would be a thought crime, naturally.

One problem with thought crimes is: how is a murder victim, for example, any worse off if he is killed by someone who hates him than someone who loves him?

The proposed bill adds to noise control enforcement up to triple the assessed fine and/or jail penalty if the offense was committed with the primary purpose of expressing, or attempting to promote, animosity, hostility or malice against a person or persons or against the property of a person or persons because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age or disability.

What does this have to do with noise control”? Does that mean if you whisper “I hate you” softly there is no crime?

Does anyone imagine there would be prosecution against anyone who expressed hatred of a straight, white, Christian man?

It also adds to sign regulations in the zoning code to enhance fines for the projections of light, laser beams or any other medium to form text, graphics, logos, or artwork upon streets, walkways, fences, sign structures, land or water surfaces, or exterior walls or other exterior portions any structure motivated by the above-described hate.

It even would create stiffer penalties for the crime of littering if the violation is motivated by the above-described hate.

The bill has been sent to three committees. It deserves to die a quiet death there.