One of the first stories about increased gun sales we wrote here at Bearing Arms early in the COVID-19 emergency was about Asian-Americans buying guns out of fear that they would be targetted for violence due to the Chinese origins of the virus.

At the time, I commented that doing so would be profoundly idiotic.

I also made the comment that I didn’t think anyone was going to blame them for it. On that, I was very, very wrong.

Now, a man who reportedly stabbed members of an Asian family is facing federal hate crime charges for his actions.

A man who allegedly tried to kill an Asian family inside a Texas supermarket last month to prevent them from spreading the coronavirus could be charged by the FBI for a hate crime, according to reports.

Jose L. Gomez, 19, is accused of stabbing three people inside a Sam’s Club in Midland on March 14. He allegedly approached an Asian family of four, stabbing three of them, including a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old child, according to an arrest report obtained by Midland Reporter-Telegram.

“The suspect indicated that he stabbed the family because he thought the family was Chinese, and infecting people with coronavirus,” a new FBI analysis report said. The case is now being investigated by the federal law enforcement agency as a hate crime.

A store employee, identified as Zack Owen, intervened, tackling Gomez to the ground. Owen was stabbed in the leg and cut on the hand while the two struggled for the knife. An off-duty Border Patrol Agent, Bernie Ramirez, who came to shop for groceries, detained Gomez before Midland police arrived.

Now, I’m not a fan of hate crime laws. It’s not that I think hate crimes are a good thing, I just don’t like the idea of charging someone with a crime based on what they’re thinking. The whole thing smacks too much of ThoughtCrime for my liking.

That said, I have no issue with Gomez spending the rest of his life behind bars over this. I’d just rather it not be because of the thoughts in his head but instead about the fact that he attacked a family, including two small children.

Look, let’s make something abundantly clear here. Asians, as a group, are not responsible for the virus. Yes, the Chinese government screwed the pooch and you can blame them all you want and I’ll agree, but “Asians” aren’t the Chinese government. Many Asians aren’t even of Chinese descent, for crying out loud.

If you’re someone who wants to blame Asians for this mess, stop. They didn’t do it. Especially since many of the Asians you’re encountering are Asian-Americans. They’re not any more likely to be carrying the virus than you are, so stop blaming them.

Do you want to help stop the virus? Wash your damn hands. Maintain social distancing. Do go out unless you need to.

Oh, and don’t freaking attack people, for the love of all that is holy.

No, seriously, if someone has the virus, you physically attacking them isn’t going to stop the spread. It’s just more likely to infect you in the first place, so knock off the stupidity. We’ve got enough problems right now without morons making things worse like this.

On the other hand, all those Asian-Americans buying guns shouldn’t sound so dumb to the anti-gunners now.