It's another lovely case of "fear breeding fear" - and I think a healthy dose of "I feel I have an excuse for my shitty behavior and so I am going to do it - even though I know I shouldn't" thrown in.

It would do these idiots more good to be sent to work in a Muslim community long enough to realize that they are hurting people that are just like them.

Sadly, that isn't going to make a big difference to the folks that they hurt.