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Should the death penalty be extended to child rapists?
American law has long followed an eye-for-an-eye legal standard for the death penalty: Only murderers could be executed. But that may be about to change. This week, the U.S. Supreme Court hears the case of a Louisiana man given the death penalty for raping his 8-year-old stepdaughter. Supporters of the penalty say Patrick Kennedy's crime was so heinous that death is the only appropriate punishment. But opponents say an execution might make victims more reluctant to report the crime -- or motivate rapists to kill their victims. Should the death penalty be extended to child rapists?
Thoughts
It should only be used on
Submitted on April 30th, 2008 by AnonymousIt should only be used on rapists.
No
Submitted on April 22nd, 2008 by AnonymousThe Death Penalty should not be used at all.
"uncle Larry"
Submitted on April 22nd, 2008 by rrdj71Unfortunately, I HAD one of those in my family while I was growing up!!
No death
Submitted on April 22nd, 2008 by rrdj71To me DEATH is too much of an easy way for them to go. I think that they should suffer in other ways instead. There are MANY other ways to make these sons of guns change their minds about EVER raping again. This way they can live with it in their concious (if they have one) for the rest of their miserable lives.
even for family members?
Submitted on April 20th, 2008 by AnonymousI hope yall salivating for the death penalty realize how many people in this country are molested by family members, so you are in essence saying that Uncle Larry, who was molested himself as a child, should be put to death. There's some family values voters for ya.
child rapist
Submitted on April 16th, 2008 by Anonymouscastration? would NOT help, the act can still be done. death penality only answer.
Castration, not death
Submitted on April 15th, 2008 by AnonymousAs bad as rape is, death is the easy way out. I'd favor castration and severe corporal punishment.
Death Penalty for Rapists.
Submitted on April 15th, 2008 by AnonymousI agree that making rape a death penalty crime might encourage the rapists to murder their victims to avoid being caught. However I strongly believe that far more stringent consequences need to be in place. I believe that when someone is convicted of raping a child, life in prison w/out the possibility of parole should be the sentence. End of story. No bargaining, no time off for good behavior, etc. Until there are strict consequences, this crime, and all others, will continue to escalate at an alarming rate.
Death Penalty IS too good for them.
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by AnonymousI'm with Chief. I'm a pretty nice lady. But if you messed with my children in this way, I'm afraid of what I might do. They would have to lock me up first.
Death penalty is too good for them
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by chief28.retThe death penalty would be too good for people who rape children. I would suggest slow castration without anesthesia using a dull butter-knife, followed by 18 hour days of watching Barnie singing "I love You, You Love Me". At least that way we would understand why they were crazy enough to do hideous things like raping children.
Deterrence is naive... and beside the point
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by BenI agree, deterrence is naive. So I would respectfully suggest you re-read the excerpt above or, better yet, click through and read the piece itself. The author clearly states that deterrence is the only reason for imposing the death penalty and indeed deterrence is rather beside the point. Forget deterrence. It's a question of retributive justice.
Deterrence through execution
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by AnonymousAll the current scientific data says that the death penalty DOES NOT DETER people from murder! Suggesting that using the death penalty as a deterrence for rape is naive.
Re: Sex offenders
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by JoelClearly, if anybody deserves to be executed for this kind of crime, Patrick Kennedy does. The details of the crime -- found in the briefs above (and warning, it's tough, ugly reading that's not for everybody) -- can and should leave you with no sympathy for the defendant in this case.
But as I explained in today's podcast, that doesn't make executions a good idea. There's a chance it will create more victims -- either by discouraging the reporting of sex crimes, or by motivating rapists to violently ensure their victims can never testify.
Patrick Kennedy deserves to die. But society doesn't need more victims of this type of crime suffering in silence. Better to swallow our bile and let him live.
More thought of sex offenders
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by AnonymousOkay, personally, I think that it would be a good idea to insert the death penalty to child rapists. I believe that if a few of these people would die, then it would deter others. Knowing that one's life is at stake.
my thought of sex offenders
Submitted on April 14th, 2008 by AnonymousI cant stand the hurtful and disgraceness for these sex offenders. i just cant believe that mean people would want to do mean things to children. i just cant stand it because it makes people and I worry and scared that it might happen to us one day.