The United States Supreme Court recently handed down a decision concerning the death penalty. In a 5-4 decision, they ruled that those convicted of child rape cannot receive the death penalty. The five justices said the imposition of the death penalty “for the rape of a child where the crime did not result, and was not intended to result, in the victim’s death” is prohibited in the US constitution which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment”.
Does anyone really think that it is cruel to execute someone that brutally sodomizes a small child?
Maybe I’m just out of touch with the rest of civilized society, but I don’t have much sympathy for someone that would do something like that.
Personally, I’m against the death penalty. I don’t think it solves anything other then taking vengeance against those that commit crimes. I don’t think the government should be in the vengeance business, especially against its own citizens. With that said, I think that if you are going to have the death penalty, you might as well include those that rape children into the mix.
If one drug dealer kills another drug dealer, he could very well face the death penalty for his crime. Am I supposed to believe that his crime is somehow more heinous then someone who rapes a young child?
I don’t think so.
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8 Responses
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I’m not sure where I stand on the death penalty, but I sure as hell agree that if we’re going to have it, why not use it on the worst criminals? I’m not sure that I can think of anything worse than a child rapist- I’d prefer not to think about it, really.
Agreed.
I hate envoking it, but isn’t there a chance of a slippery slope here? I only read parts of the opinions, and have a passing understanding of the precedent set here, but in theory couldn’t we execute a 18 year old for having sex with a 16 year old if they upheld the decision. Granted, I hardly believe this would happen, but I think all in all they made the right decision.
Brandon, you really think anyone is interested in executing 18-year old boys have have consensual sex with their 16-year old girlfriends?
The case before the Supreme Court was rape conviction of Patrick Kennedy. He was convicted of brutally raping is 8-year old step-daughter. This is from CNN:
All I’m saying is that if we are going to have the death penalty, why not use it against people like Patrick Kennedy?
If you want to punish someone, put him in prison for the rest of his life. THAT’S punishment. Killing him just puts an end to all his problems while punishing his loved ones in his stead.
Doesn’t locking someone up in the jail cell for the rest of their life also punish the criminal’s family? Not that I really care what the families of criminals feel like.
Like I said earlier, I don’t support the death penalty. I just don’t understand why if people are going to receive the death penalty for the crimes they commit, we include a guy that brutality rapes his 8-year old step-daughter.
I have to say something about this. My wife and I had 2 married men convicted of Statachatory rape of our daughter. At that time she was only 13 and had sex with 2 married men, One age 31 and the other age 22. We not only ended their marriages. But also now have them on the sex offenders list for the rest of their lives. Me What I wanted to do is cut it off them an make them eat their own junk. And No I’m not at all sorry for wanting this. the 31 year old gave our daughter a desease that cost me money to cure. Is that fair????????????? I know she had something to do with it, but those men knew her age. Sick Bastards.
Brian, there is such a thing as too much information.