Besides, in Texas (even in Texas), simple murder does not carry the death penalty.

ECONOMIST: The notion of hate crimes is incompatible with justice

But that counts as murder pure and simple.

ECONOMIST: Sharia in the West

Mr. CLARENCE PATTON (Executive Director, National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs): We track everything from simple verbal harassment up to and including murder.

NPR: Fudging the Numbers on Hate Crimes