Dreams Of Noise

I'm reading Terry Pratchett's book "Snuff" right now. In it we hear Vimes and Vetinari state the idea that "small crimes lead to big crimes". Even if this exemption doesn't protect those who physically attack others, it can very easily lead to it. Once you make it acceptable to verbally harass someone on a "sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction" it's easy to look the other way when it comes to book dumping, wedgies, an accidental shove, etc.