Societies have laws in order to protect people from serious threats made by other people.

 To protect innocent victims, judges should take into consideration the criminal background of the alleged perpetrator in a climate of growing crimes.

 The job of the police is not only to enforce the law, but also to prevent crimes from being committed.

 Forty-four-year old Christopher Banes of San Antonio was arrested in November 2012 for allegedly making a terroristic threat, reportedly saying that he was going to use .45-caliber handgun to kill Muslims at three San Antonio mosques.  

 Bane was originally charged with a felony, but when he went in front of the judge, the sentence was reduced to a Class B Misdemeanor.

 Bane has a criminal record.

 A felony charge can have much more serious penalties and consequences than a misdmeanor charge. Both charges have different degrees.

 Hate crimes against Muslims and against those who are perceived Muslims remain near decade high.

 Just last week, a Florida man was arrested after allegedly shooting a man he questioned about being Muslim. 

 Two teens recently beat a 70-year-old New York man after asking him if he was Hindu or Muslim.

 A New York man of Afghan heritage was stabbed repeatedly outside a mosque by an attacker shouting anti-Muslim comments.

 In August of last year, a gunman killed six Sikhs, followers of Sikh faith, at their Temple. There is speculation that the gunman believed he was targeting Muslims.

 San Francisco Bay Area Muslims recently called for increased community vigilance after a man reportedly entered a mosque in Fremont, Calif., claimed he had a gun, and threatened to kill everyone inside the house of worship. 

 The outer wall of the Islamic Center (mosque) of the Shenandoah Valley, Va., was smeared with graffiti, containing obscene language attacking Iraqis, as well as “This is America.”

 In October, a Sikh taxi driver, was attacked by a man shouting anti-Muslim slurs after he commented on the cabbies turban.

 An Indiana man torched an Ohio mosque causing more than one million dollars in damages.

 At the end of 2012, a woman senselessly pushed and killed a man, a follower of Hindu faith, onto subway tracks in New York reportedly because she hates Hindus and Muslims.

 A dead pig was left outside a Houston mosque.

 Pig’s legs were thrown at California mosques.

 Muslim students form the largest category of religious discrimination cases handled by the Department of Justice’s education division.

 The above are only a few incidents out of many that took place around the nation only in the last part of 2012 and the beginning of 2013. 

 In many of these cases, threats were made before the actual attacks took place, but were not taken seriously by law enforcements.

 Parents constantly worry if their child is going to be the next, they worry about the future.

 Bullying Muslim student in the schools and discriminations at jobs are too common these days for American Muslims. 

 Recently, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) submitted written testimony for Senate Hearings on hate crimes and the threat of domestic terrorism.

 The threat allegedly made by Christopher Bane is an act of terrorism and requires stronger charges than a single Class B misdemeanor.

 A Class B misdemeanor only means a 180 day in prison and $2000 bail.

 Considering the seriousness of the crime, this is only a slap on the wrist.

 In today’s hateful climate a sense of fear that pervades American Muslim citizens’ lives ¬ fear of violence, bigotry and hate that might cost them their lives.

 We urge our legal system to consider the crime of Christopher Bane a felony, thereby sending a strong message to bring a stop to the growing numbers of hate crimes against American Muslims and those who are perceived as Muslims.

 God Bless America!  

— Sarwat Husain is President of CAIR-SA.