南卡罗来纳州AG说, 只有州法律才能定义仇恨犯罪, South Carolina’s AG says only state law can define hate crimes, undermining local enforcement.

南卡罗来纳州总检察长发表了咨询意见,指出地方政府可能没有权力执行仇恨犯罪法令,州最高法院可能撤销这类法律。 South Carolina’s Attorney General has issued an advisory opinion stating that local governments likely lack the authority to enforce hate crime ordinances, warning such laws could be struck down by the state Supreme Court. 该意见基于州宪法对统一刑法的要求,认为只有州立法机构才能制定仇恨犯罪法规,因为地方法律可能与国家权力机构发生冲突,并违反第一修正案。 The opinion, based on the state constitution’s requirement for uniform criminal law, asserts that only the state legislature can create hate crime statutes, as local laws may conflict with state authority and violate the First Amendment. 虽然现有的地方法令仍然可以执行,但非洲集团强调,刑法权威完全属于国家,目前没有全国范围内的仇恨犯罪法。 While existing local ordinances remain enforceable, the AG emphasized that criminal law authority rests solely with the state, and no statewide hate crime law currently exists.