http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070528/ts_alt_afp/ussocietyjusticepoliticsexecution -------------------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON (AFP) - The idea of executing child rapists, even when there in no loss of life, is making headway in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT The Louisiana Supreme Court last week upheld the death sentence for a pedophile, and the governor of Texas is soon to sign into law legislation to that effect. In 1995, Louisiana was the first state to adopt legislation authorizing the death penalty for child rapists. Ten years later, the movement to make pedophilia punishable by death really picked up steam after nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford was raped and buried alive in Florida by a man with a prior conviction for sex crimes. Various versions of the "Jessica Law" sprang up all over in the country, imposing in most cases a minimum 25 year jail sentence and the wearing of an ankle bracelet for life for raping a child aged 12 or younger. But in some states, elected officials amended their versions of the "Jessica Law" by adding the possibility of condemning a pedophile to death. They include Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Georgia and Montana. An overwhelming majority of lawmakers in Texas chose to join the list. Texas is responsible for a third of all executions carried out in the United States in the past 30 years and for two-thirds of those conducted so far this year. The draft law is now on the desk of Texas Governor Rick Perry, who has promised to sign it. The idea seems to go against the grain in the rest of the country, where the death penalty is losing ground because of grave judicial errors and botched executions. Organizations defending the rights of crime victims have differing views on the proposals. "We are very concerned that this may reduce reporting of sexual assault, since most child abuse is made by someone close to the child," said Karen Rugaard, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault. "It is already difficult to report about a father, an uncle, a family friend ... It will be worse when the child knows they can spend a very long time in jail or be sentenced to death," she said. "We are worried that legislators did nothing to help prevent the violence," Rugaard added, expressing regret that the draft law does not call for any preventive measures. Moreover, it is uncertain that executing non-murderers will comply with the US constitutional mandate barring "cruel and unusual" punishment. The only man among more than 3,300 prisoners on death row who stands to lose his life under the new law is 42-year-old Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), who was sentenced to death in Louisiana in 2003 for raping his companion's eight-year-old daughter. In 1977, the US Supreme Court invalidated the death sentence of a rapist, arguing the punishment was disproportionate to the crime. Later, evoking "evolving standards of decency," the court also rejected the death penalty for criminals who were minors or mentally r****ded at the time they committed their crimes. But on Tuesday, the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the death penalty for Kennedy. It argued that "given the appalling nature of the crime, the severity of the harm inflicted upon the victim, and the harm imposed on society, the death penalty is not an excessive penalty for the crime of rape when the victim is a child under the age of 12 years old." The US Supreme Court could rule on the case next year. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discuss
and if we don't execute them what should we do with them? they should not be allowed back on the street the only other alternative is keeping them locked up for life. There are too many stories of convicted sex offenders being "lost" in the system and then repeating their crimes. I'm all for forgiveness and second chances -- but not when my kids (or anyone elses) are put at risk
I am against the death penalty, in general, but I don't think their punishment should be any less than what a murderer receives. Solitary confinement for life, maybe...
That's ok. We balance each other out. When it comes to a child rapist, I'd be happy to be the guy in the black hood weilding the axe.
not sure in all honesty...I mean I know I feel like killing a pedophile when I read about their crime...everyone deserves a chance at forgiveness, I just wish pedophiles made it easier for us to believe and live that. Kinda hard to when such a high percentage of them are repeat offenders.
I think believing and living forgiveness and intentionally putting children in harms way are two different things. I pray for pedophiles -- I truly hope they find true forgiveness (and believe they can) -- but I don't want them anywhere near any children.
I voted no, because I'm anti-death penalty. That whole "vengeance is Mine" thing. But I would shed many tears if those child rapists were given life in the hardest prisons, and the other prisoners came up with there own punishment.
As opposed to what? I don't believe in killing another human being out of vengeance. They shouldn't be allowed to live anywhere where they have even the smallest chance to harm another person, however.
Exactly. My stance on the death penalty is based on religious beliefs. I certainly don't consider myself as in favor of soft punishments in general.
in the ground is a good place for that. i understand. but im curious how your religion handles locking someone up like an animal and waiting for them to die?
locked in a small room with food given to you on someone elses time, getting minimal time outside and very few priviliges....animal like. Although my dogs get more than 30 minutes outside, so maybe not as good as an animal its not kill them or set them free. i didnt say that. But when someone has 9 life sentences and no chance for parole, i dont understand why you just dont get it done with
I think death or life in prison are the only two options. How do you prove someone is rehabilitated? When they committed their crimes they gave up their right to live in society because the safety of the children out weights their rights.
Get what "done with?" The point of putting them in jail is not to slowly kill them, it's to make sure they never harm another person again. They lose their right to live among other people, but they don't lose their right to live (which is where religion comes in for some people). It's about protecting potential victims, not "overly-punishing" the criminal.
overly punishing? doesnt that depend on the crime...hard for me to overly punish someone who routinely has sex with little kids, or even worse. and i personally think that for especially heinous acts, that person does give up their "right to live" (although i have a problem with that phrase)
