Mirror,

You describe a bunch of activities which you seem to think 'all' KKK members participate in... those activities are already illegal - there is no need to make the KKK itself illegal. What we really need is enforcement of existing laws to address that problem, not more laws.

YellowRose is right, it is wrong to say these things about 'all' KKK members. For example, I do not believe that 'all' KKK members nationwide rob gas stations.

-----

LadyLid - as far as 'spewing hate and violence' - most acts of violence are already illegal.

Now, when it comes to 'spewing hate' with words - who decides what is hate? We cannot go down that road, in my opinion. There is too much control already. I would love for the KKK to STFU and never be heard from again, but any legal tools we use toward this end will result in even more censorship and control over speech.

I was going to say that as well. who decides what others can think or believe? Just because I might not like something...doesn't mean it should go away. we have laws here and if people cross the lines...let them be prosecuted. But I will defend someone's rights to their beliefs whether I agree with them or not...until they cross the lines

racist groups are all over the country...not just the south. KKK, Black Panthers, Skin heads, etc.

racist groups are all over the country...not just the south. KKK, Black Panthers, Skin heads, etc.

MirrorMirror,

How would you phrase this law?

True, but I am pretty sure my part of the country has more history with the KKK. (I know you're southern too so you dont have to say anything)And they "crossed the line" over a hundred years agoBack when they were at the height of their power decades ago,the leader of the KKK at that time,bit a woman to death on a train

It's already the law( about their property being confiscated)

I'm born and bred Texan...yes. I wasn't around during those times so I won't be held responsible for what others did. I won't be held responsible for what others do now. I'm responsible for myself. If you make one group illegal, you have to make them ALL illegal and who enforces that? there are gangs out there and other hate groups. you can't prosecute someone because they MIGHT do something. I am sure initiations of that type happen. but not all initiation are that way. some you show loyalty by protesting or handing out pamphlets or whatever.

who decides what others can or can not believe?

i have to disagree with your comment about skinheads being racist. Have you been a skinhead ? I was a skinhead in the eighties in england and it was a popular movement with its roots in reggae or ska music. Looks you know can be decieving

MirrorMirror, I believe it is illegal for an organization to require their members to break laws as part of their initiation - so maybe people need to enforce these laws better against the KKK.

If every single person in a particular organization is truly guilty of committing crimes like this, then every single one of them should be prosecuted. I still don't know why you say 'the KKK should be illegal'. It sounds more like you are saying 'the KKK, in practice, is illegal (in their activities)'.

I'm sorry that they are a regional embarrassment to you - and its good to see Southerners (are you a Southerner?) embracing their culture while denouncing things like this.

i have to disagree with your comment about skinheads being racist. Have you been a skinhead ? I was a skinhead in the eighties in england and it was a popular movement with its roots in reggae or ska music. Looks you know can be decieving

Thanks for pointing that out! I knew an old-school, non-racist skinhead in the early nineties (he was from england). Today, I think the racists have mostly co-opted the term, though I heard there are a few groups of non-racist skinheads left.

The KKK is a good place to start. Technically they were already outlawed decades ago by the FBI but they broke up into little groups all over the place and claim to be seperate even though everyone knows they all work together

The KKK is a good place to start. Technically they were already outlawed decades ago by the FBI but they broke up into little groups all over the place and claim to be seperate even though everyone knows they all work together

Mirror, I think this whole topic has been a misunderstanding between us. When a person says "made illegal" or "outlawed" they often mean "new laws are passed, ie by congress, explicitly forbidding a certain activity."

When you say that they were 'outlawed by the FBI', you are talking about investigation and prosecution, not making new laws (since, obviously, the FBI doesn't make new laws).

With that in mind, I wonder if you, me, and YellowRose actually all agree on this topic - it just sounded like you were calling for new laws specifically targeting the KKK.