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Is there really anything more barbaric or inhumane than child molestation/sex? While the offender may go to jail (for some of them it's a vacation) many other offenders go live their lives among society unpunished. It's sad to see stiffer penalties for animal cruelty than humans. But, the damage to the child is a life sentence. No matter how much they try to forget, it haunts them and affects the rest of their life. It affects them financially when they have to invest in years of therapy. It robs them emotionally and mentally. It rips them of their innocence as a child. It robs them of their option to choose to stay a virgin or not. When they are older, it affects how they pursue and perceive intimacy in their relationships. Maybe someone should take a poll from molested/raped children. Ask them how it has affected them. Are they now involved w/ running away, drugs, alcohol, prostitution?
by The Chief on October 12th, 2009
No Constitutional Amendment is required for this. The Tenth Amendment already covers it:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
South Carolina already has such a law on the books, and Oklahoma isn't far behind. Texas is looking into it as well. Louisiana and Florida also have the death penalty for some sex crimes.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,198931,00.html
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2006/06/09/902/60833
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1616890,00.html
by pouncey on October 12th, 2009
Maybe not murder but instead let them get raped by an older man and see if they like it. That will be much better.
by Thriftymaid on October 12th, 2009
I never support murder, legal or illegal.
by OldCW wears The COAT of the Cosmos on October 12th, 2009
No, that should be reserved for capital crimes. Child molesting is bad, but not THAT bad.
by manywords on October 12th, 2009
No, I don't support the death penalty at all
by kittygoesmoo- engaged...finally on November 2nd, 2009
No, I do not support the death penalty for any crimes. To me there is NO lawful way of taking someones life. And I also dont see why people draw a line between the sexual assault of adults and children. Its the same thing, both are taking away someones power for the sick enjoyment of another, and trauma is a given in either one.
by Suspira on October 21st, 2009
I have real issues with this one.
On the one hand, I was sexually abused as a child and there was no punishment I did not think about using on the person who did that to me. I almost went crazy because of that experience. Anyone who ever sexually abuses or molests children is sick and evil beyond all reason. For such people I would be glad to jam them in the electric chair or be the hand that uses the syringe.
But then there are people who could recover from this disease of the mind. There are people that could greatly benefit from counseling and really turn their lives around, being an inspiration to those who think there is no hope for them. Can we really live with the ever-present question of "Is there any way we could have saved them?"
And last, but highlighted in other answers, we get to the people who never molested anybody in their whole lives, but are convicted by a jury of supposedly sane people. Whether they were framed by the real culprit, or their prime evidence was inadmissable in court, or any number of other injustices, the fact remains that they are in reality innocent. There are those who know that they are innocent. Would I want to send a man wrongly accused to the chair or the needle? NO. Any such death is a serious miscarrage of justice, and it never gets recognition because in everybody else's mind, justice was served.
There is no possible way that the courts can be right all the time. I think I would support it, but only if there's a possibility of the death penalty, not just every person found guilty be killed.
by Stu B in his fleece-lined COAT on October 12th, 2009
No - no matter how heinous the crime, the risk of executing even one innocent person makes the death penalty unconscionable...
by Wynper on October 12th, 2009
I am with OldCW has a new COAT on this.
It's pretty easy to get people fired up about child molesters because lets face it most of us agree that the behavior is reprehensible. But let's look closer at this. Most child molesters victimize someone in their own family. Some molesters abduct children and we see those awful stories in the media enough that people keep their kids in the house. Never mind the facts but that is another post.
The accusation of child molesting is being made much more now. There is a pretty good argument that people report more because they feel freer to but there is also a good one to be made that the accusation is made as a weapon as well especially in divorces. Sorry about your luck...Dad is dead...he was innocent but...
Let's look at the 80% of cases where the molester and the child are related. I want to ask you this. If the death penalty was a possible or probable consequence how do you think that would affect reporting of the crime?
Uncle Bill molests Timmy...reporting it tears the family apart, some family members believe he is guilty others don't...but he is still Uncle Bill... If we report he may be put to death? You see where I am going here?
That's not even mentioning the terrible affect it might have on the victim who would now be responsible for the death sentence of another human being just for telling the truth about being victimized.
The death penalty for child molesting sounds good on it's face but it really isn't. Maybe if there were fewer low level drug offenders in prison really dangerous people like rapists, child molesters and murders might actually get to stay in prison where they belong.
by yahoot on October 12th, 2009
I think it would be very appropriate, especially for violent, repeat or predatory offenders.
by mrrw on October 12th, 2009
No death penalties ever.
by therapist on October 12th, 2009
yes I would. Studies do show that they never change. Most of them go right back to molesting within hours of getting out of prison. Even chemical castration doesn't work in most cases. The children must be protected.
by evandad on October 12th, 2009
Yes I would. If they're dead you never have to worry about them hurting another child.
by SoulSearcher on October 12th, 2009
Yeah I would.
by roiboysatx on October 12th, 2009
on the second conviction
by jaygee on November 20th, 2009
Multiple offenderes ...... first timers should have some surgery to diminish the sex drive if there is such a thing.
by Suny on October 12th, 2009
No, our justice system has to many pot holes.
by Factotum on October 12th, 2009
There is no need for an amendment, each state is empowered to decide what is and isn't worthy of capital punishment. As it happens Louisiana, Florida and Oklahoma all provide for capital punishment for aggravated rape.
.
Personally I would prefer life in jail on the second offense.
by elephantSmiles on October 12th, 2009
I would if it specified what the molester has to do to be killed. It would depend on the severity of the molestation.
by Gene H on November 20th, 2009
No. Enough innocent people die as it is. Look, I could take one of those sons of bitches behind the barn and blow his brains out an not lose a wink of sleep. Trouble is, some prosecutor wants to be re-elected, or some police chief wants to make a name for himself, or some political flunky wants to impress the higher ups, and all of a sudden there is a rash of people put to death. It's an imperfect system, but killing you can't make up for. First offenders get life? I don't mind.
by President Norris 2016 on November 20th, 2009
Why would it involve an amendment? the state alone has the power to delegate death via the Governor; I agree with this good or bad, as a society we need to start coming down hard on sex offenders especially crimes towards children, an example must be made, execute them.
by Gen.ButtNaked on November 27th, 2009
If the child was kidnapped and murdered, surely I would!!!! There is no way I could sanction the death of another off the allegation of molestation, far too many a man are incarcerated now, because of a pissed of ex-wife, ex-girlfriend, or some girl who did not get their way and made an accusation!!!
by knownothing on November 20th, 2009
Yes, but I think in order to get the death penalty, the prosecution should be held to a higher standard of proof than the vague concept of "beyond a reasonable doubt". Death is, you know, final.
What happens to the personal possessions of a suicide victim if they have no living relatives?
by claireharlanorsi on July 8th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Is all crime due to incorrect breeding?
by Andy B has left AB on September 10th, 2011
| 3 people like this
If there were a public execution on TV would you watch it?
by Bornabrit on October 6th, 2011
| 11 people like this
How many more "Humanitarian Interventions" must we complete, until the price of oil comes back down?
by snatchquach LOONYVILLE INMATE on October 25th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Is it right that my 15 dollar sneakers are wearing out at the soles
after a month and that my 15 dollar cell phone won't turn on anymore?
by CosmicWunderkind on September 30th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
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