>without even getting into the actions. > >in the court of law can't verbal abuse still be considered on >the same plane with physical abuse?
no. first amendment protects bigoted speech. speech is criminalized when it's threatening but not when it's insulting.
i have successfully defended a client who was accused of calling a woman a 'dyke'. she did call that woman a dyke and that's not criminal. it's nasty, mean, rude, insulting, hateful...but not criminal.