Context
Reading Man who threw boiling water on gay couple will spend 40 years in prison:
The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes Wednesday before finding Martin Blackwell guilty of eight counts of aggravated battery and two counts of aggravated assault, according to the Associated Press.
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The 48-year-old wasn’t charged with a hate crime because Georgia is one of five states that do not have hate crime statutes. An FBI spokesman told Reuters that federal investigators are considering whether to charge Blackwell with a federal hate crime.
(emphasis mine)
Question
Why does the state of Georgia not have a hate crime statute?
Note: The answer would specify any statements made by representatives on why or any attempts to put in place a statute that didn't pass (or both)