Hate Crimes

I've been following/catching up on news lately and there were a few issues that I thought I would share with readers.

The first issue is that of hate crimes. I've always had a strong dislike for hate crime laws because of the principle involved: the government mandates different punishments based solely on what you are thinking. I don't have a problem with differing punishments for the same crime... maybe I should elucidate a few of my philosophies and beliefs first.

beliefs:
1) Sin deserves punishment.
2) Mercy is quality man can show

Personal idea (as far as I can tell it is based on the Bible)
1) The mortal punishment for sin is based on actual action.
2) The punishment for an action may be based on the belief
behind an action, but we're only given physical actions to
judge.
3) Government has never been shown or told to be merciful
4) Man should be merciful (and wise, don't forget that part)

Conclusion ( short at this point, since I spent so long on the first part ):
1) Government should mandate punishment based only on physical action
2) Government can mandate a range of punishment so that the implementors of the law (men such as judges and juries) are able to show mercy.
3) Governments role is not to differentiate punishment for the same actions through the thought, which is the definition of what hate crime laws do.

A general overview of the issue
Overview according to HSLDA
The text of the law at issue - HR 1592 RFS
The definition of a hate crime the above law uses - H.R. 3355

Whew - OK. its getting late now, I'll post the next issue tomorrow. Let me know if I made some huge flubs or if my conclusions or basis don't flow together well