As for #2, the most likely reason this was brought up as a Federal hate crime as the attacker videotaped himself describing the attack and using derogatory slang towards his victim. 
  
Trust me, I believe all these peckerwoods should spend considerable amounts of time in jail but despite the fact that it appears one particular racial group of youths are participating in this "game," and are stupid enough to brag about it on social networking sites, they are at least smart (or lucky) enough not to admit racial motivations in picking their targets. 
  
As for #1, I thought NY's strict gun laws were suppose to make things safer there?!? [/sarcasm]