Yes.
If the life is taken unintentionally, as opposed to intentionally, that’s less of a crime.
If the life is taken in the heat of the moment, as a result of a provoking action, as opposed to being planned out in advance, that’s less of a crime.
If the life is taken because of what a person is instead of who they are, that is more of a crime, because at that point the killer isn’t even seeing the victim as human.
Finally, if your goal in killing is not just based on someone being an “unperson,” but is supposed to frighten all of the other “unpeople” into submission, that’s much more of a crime, because you’re not just attacking one person and unintentionally inflicting pain on the community, you are intentionally attacking the community. You’re not just targeting one victim, but dozens, or hundreds, or more.
Not at all. But is the trauma inflicted on the community worth nothing in itself?
