When did "offending" someone become as bad as murder?

As a country we seem to be obsessed with not offending people. Have we become overly sensitive? What about the old saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me.”? My favorite answer to someone trying to insult me is this: “since I have absolutely ZERO respect for you as a person there is NOTHING you can say that will offend me.”