Auburn and UNC coed murders: Hate crimes?

Two Georgia coeds were savagely murdered by animals with no regard for human life this week. But, today, there is some news which can give us solace that perhaps we will find their murderers and see them face the ultimate judgement (that means your death, if you're reading this, savage beasts).

Auburn coed and Marietta native Lauren Burk was murdered at school in Alabama, and her alleged assailant was arrested today.

UNC student body president and Athens native Eve Carson was also murdered this week, and the police have released a photograph of a "person of interest" (read: her killer) today as well.

As a father of two teenagers, I am sickened by these murders and am considering buying a handgun and letting my two children learn how to use it properly, so that when they are on their own at one of these unsafe universities, they can choose whether they might want to be one of the protected ones, or a sacrificial lamb.

Be that as it may, I wonder, will these gentlemen, when they are finally formally charged, face additional penalties for their hate crimes?

Update: America's Most Wanted will feature these cases tonight.