Court rejects death penalty for raping children *merged*

[Cajuncowboy]

U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Law Allowing Execution for Child Rape

Wednesday, June 25, 2008


WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law that allows the execution of people convicted of a raping a child.

In a 5-4 vote, the court says the law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in cases of child rape violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

[CowboyFan74]

Nah let's put em in a cage, probe them and study them we say...

[zrinkill]

grrrrrrrrr

[heavyg]

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer



WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law that allows the execution of people convicted of a raping a child.


In a 5-4 vote, the court says the law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in cases of child rape violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

"The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. His four liberal colleagues joined him, while the four more conservative justices dissented.

There has not been an execution in the United States for a crime that did not also involve the death of the victim in 44 years.

[heavyg]

Didn't see this was already posted.

[BrAinPaiNt]

I think most know how I feel about child rapists and in most part the death penalty. So I am not happy about that decision, although I don't know all the circumstances behind it...seems like a crappy decision.

However, sadly it would not make me vote for Bush or half of the other republicans in office right now, then again it would not get me to vote for hillary, obama or half the dems in office either.

But I love me some fear tactics, I do I do, love em love em.

[arglebargle]

If you make the penalty for rape no different than the penalty for killing someone, you are increasing the chances that the child will be killed as well.

Do you really want to do that?

And, if you throw these guys into the jail population, there will be some hard justice done.

Now if you were to come up on trial for taking someone out who had brutally raped your kid, and you had actually gotten the right perp (one of the big problems with vigilante justice considering the number of folks getting cleared on DNA evidence lately), I would be fine with jury no billing you, or playing the extenuating circumstances card.

[Bonecrusher#31]

Child Molesters shouldn't get the Death Penalty....

They should be castrated without anesthesia, left in prison to rot and receive daily crow bar rectum rips...

[Angus]

It appears Justice Kennedy is doing his best to get John McCain elected.

[iceberg]

Originally Posted by BrAinPaiNt

I think most know how I feel about child rapists and in most part the death penalty. So I am not happy about that decision, although I don't know all the circumstances behind it...seems like a crappy decision.

However, sadly it would not make me vote for Bush or half of the other republicans in office right now, then again it would not get me to vote for hillary, obama or half the dems in office either.

But I love me some fear tactics, I do I do, love em love em.

no one issue would ever push me to either side. it's just not that simple. if one issue is that important to an individual, fine. but as a country where would it fall?

on the flip side, if they executed for rape, then the people they rape would just be killed anyway likely (maybe) because there's no difference in the penalty.

would you let your rape victim go tell on you so you can get killed, or do you just committ another crime, killing your victim because the pentalty is the same and you stand a better chance getting awa with it cause there are no witnesses?

[iceberg]

Originally Posted by arglebargle

If you make the penalty for rape no different than the penalty for killing someone, you are increasing the chances that the child will be killed as well.

Do you really want to do that?

And, if you throw these guys into the jail population, there will be some hard justice done.

Now if you were to come up on trial for taking someone out who had brutally raped your kid, and you had actually gotten the right perp (one of the big problems with vigilante justice considering the number of folks getting cleared on DNA evidence lately), I would be fine with jury no billing you, or playing the extenuating circumstances card.

Originally Posted by iceberg

no one issue would ever push me to either side. it's just not that simple. if one issue is that important to an individual, fine. but as a country where would it fall?

on the flip side, if they executed for rape, then the people they rape would just be killed anyway likely (maybe) because there's no difference in the penalty.

would you let your rape victim go tell on you so you can get killed, or do you just committ another crime, killing your victim because the pentalty is the same and you stand a better chance getting awa with it cause there are no witnesses?

i'm a little late. : )

[ConcordCowboy]

Well after this and the Exxon Valdez decision...I can see that the Supreme Court is real popular around here today.

[ConcordCowboy]

Originally Posted by arglebargle

If you make the penalty for rape no different than the penalty for killing someone, you are increasing the chances that the child will be killed as well.

Do you really want to do that?

And, if you throw these guys into the jail population, there will be some hard justice done.

Now if you were to come up on trial for taking someone out who had brutally raped your kid, and you had actually gotten the right perp (one of the big problems with vigilante justice considering the number of folks getting cleared on DNA evidence lately), I would be fine with jury no billing you, or playing the extenuating circumstances card.

I know it's not popular but you do have a good point.

[iceberg]

Originally Posted by ConcordCowboy

I know it's not popular but you do have a good point.

i was on the "kill him now" camp last time this came up and i guess it was argle who made this argument and i had to stop and think about it. it's a very valid point that while doesn't fix the immediate emotional rage, is the better of the two crappy choices.

[heavyg]

Originally Posted by iceberg

no one issue would ever push me to either side. it's just not that simple. if one issue is that important to an individual, fine. but as a country where would it fall?

on the flip side, if they executed for rape, then the people they rape would just be killed anyway likely (maybe) because there's no difference in the penalty.

would you let your rape victim go tell on you so you can get killed, or do you just committ another crime, killing your victim because the pentalty is the same and you stand a better chance getting awa with it cause there are no witnesses?

Well with that logic lets stop giving the death penalty for murderers. That should stop all the murders. There was a day in this country when if you stole someone's horse you were hung. Nowadays if you steal someone's car you might spend a few months in jail. No one takes responsibility for their actions anymore. It's always someone else's fault they do what they do.