Police Chief Mullen said it is a hate crime. Under the law in SC, it is not

[cali]

South Carolina is one of only 5 states in the country that doesn't have a hate crime law, which stiffens penalties for.. hate crimes. The others are:

Arkansas, Michigan, Georgia and Wyoming.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/06/18/3671111/south-carolina-shooting-hate-crime/

South Carolina also celebrates "Confederate Memorial Day", which is an official state holiday, flies that horrible racist flag, allows confederate license plates, has redistricted in a racially biased way and has strict voter ID laws.

It's a state government that encourages racial bigotry.

Nikki Haley should hang her head in shame.

[onehandle]

1. Well, then. Terrorism it is.

Hello Feds. Woo-hoo. Time to slip on the 'jackboots' and head down I-95.

[backscatter712]

2. Ship that fucker Dylann Roof to Gitmo...

Give him a drink... on the waterboard.

[Tipperary]

3. Hate crime law or not, that cretin murdered nine people,

and he will die for it under the law in SC which allows the dp.

[mnhtnbb]

4. Nikki Haley is obtuse.

She has her reasons for refusing to recognize why Roof's motive was incomprehensible,
and they are mostly self-serving.

What a loathsome woman.

[GeorgeGist]

12. Gotta keep the racists voting R.

[B2G]

5. Don't federal hate crime laws cover this?

It's not solely up to the state.

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. Nine counts of murder ought to be sufficient. n/t

[cwydro]

7. That's what I think too. nt

[jwirr]

9. Especially if they give him the death penalty or 9 consecutive life sentences. I do not like the DP

but I will not have a say in SC.

[moondust]

8. The Feds can try the case even after the state does.

And it does not constitute double jeopardy.

(According to the teevee experts.)

[oberliner]

10. Not sure how the penalty can be any stiffer than death

SC gov: State to seek death penalty against Charleston suspect

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/245505-sc-gov-state-to-seek-death-penalty-against-charleston-suspect

[angel123]

11. Nikki's crocodile tears.

She is embarrassed because her state has shown how just how odious it is. I am so tired of these people talking about how heart broken they are. Who do they think they are fooling?