Hate Speech does have Tragic Consequences

All too often, we hear about gun violence in the United States of America.

The American nation is shocked in horror yet again. Today, a lone gunman opened fire in front of a supermarket called Safeway in the Arizona city of Tuscon. The gunman killed six people (including a nine-year-old girl) and wounded a United States Congresswoman.

It is not clear why the gunman went on this terrifying rampage.

But whatever his reasons, the local sheriff - who is coordinating the investigation with the FBI - believes it is time for America to do some soul-searching.

Sheriff Clarence Dupnik, speaking about Arizona: (Link)

"When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous. And, unfortunately, Arizona I think has become sort of the capital. We have become the Mecca for prejudice and bigotry.

"It's not unusual for all public officials to get threats constantly, myself included. And that's the sad thing of what's going on in America. Pretty soon, we're not going to be able to find reasonable, decent people who are willing to subject themselves to serve in public office."

He later added:

DUPNIK: Let me just say one thing, because people tend to poo-poo this business about all the vitriol that we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living off of doing that. That may be free speech. But it's not without consequences."

Freedom of speech is a sacred right guaranteed by the First amendment of the US constitution.

For countries that follow this model of the freedom of speech, should hate speech be criminalised in order to deter such horrible crimes?