Quote:
Originally Posted by Taltarzac725
What does the statute have to do with anything. Cases are decided by the facts. And also not by prejudice against an actor because of animosity towards their beliefs.
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Are you kidding? Didn't you attend law school? Statutes define crimes.
"State legislatures have the exclusive and inherent power to pass a law prohibiting and punishing any act, provided that the law does not contravene the provisions of the U.S. or state constitution. When classifying conduct as criminal, state legislatures must ensure that the classification bears some reasonable relation to the welfare and safety of society. Municipalities may make designated behavior illegal insofar as the power to do so has been delegated to them by the state legislature.
Laws passed by Congress or a state must define crimes with certainty. A citizen and the courts must have a clear understanding of a criminal law's requirements and prohibitions. The elements of a criminal law must be stated explicitly, and the statute must embody some reasonably discoverable standards of guilt. If the language of a statute does not plainly show what the legislature intended to prohibit and punish, the statute may be declared void for vagueness."
From:
Criminal Law legal definition of Criminal Law