Should child rapists face execution?

[Rebelyell]

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 opinion written by Anthony Kennedy, has ruled that imposing the death penalty for the rape of a child is cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the 8th Amendment.

Says Kennedy: "there is a social consensus against the death penalty for the crime of child rape." I don't think there is a social consensus against the death penalty for child rape.

Make no mistake, there are problems with the death penalty. Since children cannot consent, any activity with an adult is considered rape. I'm not saying there should be the death penalty in every case, but it at least should be an option in the most outrageous cases.

Anyway, I thought I'd post this poll to see if there really was a social consensus or if it was just some crapola being spewed by a justice who is legislating from the bench.

[Brian K Beckett]

I could see the point of it possibly being cruel and unusual. Like a 18 yr old with a 17 yr old and say maybe one gets mad at the other and says they were raped to get back at em.

But I would most definatly like to see it as an option. for other types of rape im not going to mention cause it makes me sick to think about it.

[glenda]

I think if they had stiffer punishment some of the things wouldnt happen

[littlelee]

This is utterly ridiculous! I think a child that is raped has suffered cruel & unusual punishment. This is another case of our government giving more rights to the offender instead of the victim.

[hhowe]

I would definitely support the death penalty for child rape, I like others here know that boyfriend, girlfriend relationships a lot of times have no place even being in court, but in the most despicable cases the death penalty would be far less cruel and unusual than what they deserve.

[Rebelyell]

I could see the point of it possibly being cruel and unusual. Like a 18 yr old with a 17 yr old and say maybe one gets mad at the other and says they were raped to get back at em.

But I would most definatly like to see it as an option. for other types of rape im not going to mention cause it makes me sick to think about it.

Brian,

The child rape statutes that involved the death penalty all involved sex with a child 12 or younger by an adult 18 or older.

[mark]

...........I say death because they KNOW what they are doing.

For the libs here.....I guess you can give them a different choice:


castration ............see ya mark

[Cummins]

I say that anyone who does such a horrible thing to someone that is that young should have the death penalty.

[bostonbaby]

I think we should go back to public hangings. Wasnt there a incident a year or so ago that a man raped a 3 month old in Ohio? I believe in execution and sometimes i think sticking a needle in a crimials arm is too good for them. What a criminal does to their victim isnt painless, why should their death be?

[kdown]

How dumb !!!
No death penalty for raping a little child, unless the child is killed.
Does this mean there will be no death penalty, for any reason, unless there is a murder involved ?

Current Kentucky allowing death penalty
Kentucky. Murder with aggravating factors; kidnaping with aggravating factors (KRS 32.025).

I guess KRS 32.025 won't meet the court test

[Rebelyell]

How dumb !!!
No death penalty for raping a little child, unless the child is killed.
Does this mean there will be no death penalty, for any reason, unless there is a murder involved ?

Current Kentucky allowing death penalty
Kentucky. Murder with aggravating factors; kidnaping with aggravating factors (KRS 32.025).

I guess KRS 32.025 won't meet the court test
Only two capital crimes remain where murder is not involved: espionage and treason.

[TheMan]

Our society has set the standards for the death penalty. You pretty much have to take a life to have yours taken. While I agree that a child rapist had no right to live, you must see the standard set for the crimes. In my opinion any rape victim, regardless of age, suffers immeasurable. And with mental wounds that will never heal.

However it is much cheaper to house them for life than it is to kill them.

[JRbickley]

Castrate'em then kill'em, if it happend to one of mine thats what I would won't to see.

[mom36]

Hang'em High and leave them to rot.

[acoolmom777]

Yes


mental Wounds That Will Never Heal

[breesmom04]

I completely agree with the castration idea! I have never been able to understand how someone could hurt an innocent child in any way, and as TheMan stated the victim has immeasureable damage. These poor children will live in fear for years if not their whole lives. What do we do to give them back their peace of mind? The answer would be that there is nothing that we can do! Killing their rapist won't take away the fear and the pain. These children will still be afraid of almost everyone around them. They will question everyone they meet. The thing I dislike the most is that these sick and twisted people can hurt our children and if they're caught, they'll go to prision, but all they have to do is exercise good behavior and they'll get out in half the time. How fair is that to their victim(s)? It is for this reason that it absolutely drives me insane to see small children running around and their parent(s) no where in sight or at least not close enough to keep a good watchful eye on their child. The only time my daughter is ever away from me to where I'm not right beside her, is when we're at home! Granted, some freak could be watching her there too, but its highly unlikely since I have 3 dogs and one of them is quite large (1yo. and about 120lbs or better. I'm 5'4" and he hits me at my waist!) No one not even myself, comes anywhere near my house without my dogs knowing and alerting us. My neighbors can't even have company or come home without my dogs going nuts! I love my dogs!!!! Back on subject though, how exactly do we keep our children out of harms way and still let them have some freedom? Forgive me for asking that, but I am a young mother and I want to do what is in the best interest of my child!

[Magees]

It is my understanding that rap is a crime of power. The rapist wants to hurt the victim in the most personal way that is humanly possible.
Think is I think that all rap should be a capital crime. Because, if the rapist do it once, does jail time, they will rap again once there are let out. With DNA testing. Should be an open and closed case.

Down side: If a rapists know that the crime has capital punishment attached. He may rap then kill the victim, and try to destroy the body to cover the crime.

That just the way I see it.
Russell Dickson

[kdown]

Just for the record, the last 2 men from Mason County to be executed were: Note their ages

JONES, ARTHUR 16 BLACK MALE ? MURDER-ROBBERY ELECTROCUTION MAR 22 1946 MASON
WARNER, THOMAS 19 BLACK MALE ? MURDER-ROBBERY ELECTROCUTION MAR 22 1946 MASON

[Foxy]

I am sure I am a minority in this thinking, but if the crime's punishment = death, why would he/she allow the vicitim to live? If you getting the gas chamber anyway, why not kill the vicitim?

[SilverFox]

I think most states recognize a child as being under 12 or 13 and this would protect a young man who is dating a girl under 18 and is charged with rape. Any man who would rape a child is not fit to go on living. Can you just imagine the trauma and mental anguish this poor child will endure for life?? The monster in question was a 300 lb black man who raped an eight year old girl.

[kdown]

There are 2 or 3 on that court that need to retire.

[Bengals_Mama]

I am not totally for the death penalty in murder cases, but this is a bit different. The chances of a murderer reoffending are not very great, but child molestors almost ALWAYS reoffend. I'm not sure what the court is thinking on this one... I don't consider myself Liberal or Conservative, but someone is definitely off their rocker on this one. I don't see how you can put to death someone for murder, but for not stealing a child's innocence...that is something they will have to live/deal with the rest of their lives.

[TheMan]

Our children's innocence was stolen long ago.

[Brian K Beckett]

I completely agree with the castration idea! I have never been able to understand how someone could hurt an innocent child in any way, and as TheMan stated the victim has immeasureable damage. These poor children will live in fear for years if not their whole lives. What do we do to give them back their peace of mind? The answer would be that there is nothing that we can do! Killing their rapist won't take away the fear and the pain. These children will still be afraid of almost everyone around them. They will question everyone they meet. The thing I dislike the most is that these sick and twisted people can hurt our children and if they're caught, they'll go to prision, but all they have to do is exercise good behavior and they'll get out in half the time. How fair is that to their victim(s)? It is for this reason that it absolutely drives me insane to see small children running around and their parent(s) no where in sight or at least not close enough to keep a good watchful eye on their child. The only time my daughter is ever away from me to where I'm not right beside her, is when we're at home! Granted, some freak could be watching her there too, but its highly unlikely since I have 3 dogs and one of them is quite large (1yo. and about 120lbs or better. I'm 5'4" and he hits me at my waist!) No one not even myself, comes anywhere near my house without my dogs knowing and alerting us. My neighbors can't even have company or come home without my dogs going nuts! I love my dogs!!!! Back on subject though, how exactly do we keep our children out of harms way and still let them have some freedom? Forgive me for asking that, but I am a young mother and I want to do what is in the best interest of my child!


This drives me nuts as well. I agree a kid needs their freedom but not at 6 yrs old. I think if parents did keep a better eye on their kids it wouldent happen as much. But unfortunitly things like this does happen even to kids that have responsible parents. I think the best thing a parent could do is to not allow their kid the freedom to rip and runn all over the place untill they are a certain age and then a parent should make their kid earn the right and then educate their children to the possibilities of what could happen and what to do to prevent. I got to agree that yes a child should be able to play in the front yard without constant supervision but unfortunitly we do not live in a perfect world and their are people that do stalk kids and their are parents that allow their kid to runn all over the place at too young of ages. I say tourture death to the offenders but I also say make a tough punishment for irresponsible parents. No accountibility!!!

[Chuck]

I'm lost in the whole eye for an eye thing.