U.S. states widen scope of executions...

[marmar]

Published on August 29, 2006 by the Inter Press Service
U.S. States Widen Scope for Executions
by Haider Rizvi

NEW YORK - Politicians in primarily southern U.S. states have passed laws that expand the use of the death penalty to include repeat child sex offenders -- a move mental health professionals say is ineffective in stopping molestation and abolitionists believe ultimately will be ruled unconstitutional. Despite the warnings, though, two states, South Carolina and Oklahoma, this summer enacted laws that allow repeat child sex offenders to be put to death. They join Louisiana, Florida, and Montana, which already have similar laws on their books.

The governors of both Oklahoma and South Carolina argued that the sexual abuse of children is as bad as murder because molestation causes permanent damage to the life of the child.

"(It) is about sending a very clear message that there are some lines that you do not cross," said South Carolina governor Mark Sanford in a statement, "and that if those lines are crossed the penalties will be severe."

Oklahoma State Senator Jay Paul Gumm echoed the sentiment. "We allow the death penalty for someone who has killed a body," Gumm, who authored the Oklahoma bill, said in a statement. "Why would we allow someone to escape who has killed a soul?"

But critics dismiss such reasoning as irrational and unconstitutional, even though they acknowledge that child rape is a serious crime.

"Obviously, it's a very, very serious crime," said John Holdridge, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) capital punishment project, in an interview with IPS. "But this law is totally disproportionate to the crime, which does not involve a case of an eye for an eye."

The rest is at: http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0829-04.htm

[acmavm]

1. Lock the sick bastards up until they're too old to molest or

cut it off. But put them to death? Shit, who's running things? The Taliban?

[marmar]

2. "who's running things? The Taliban?"

Pretty much. The Christian equivalent of it, anyway.

[movonne]

3. This is good ...look how many repugs in office and running for office

will get the death penalty..this will probably get rid of a lot of repugs...

[Lowell]

6. This post pretty much sums it up

We really cull the herd of repukes.

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/index.php/Republican_Values

[Protagoras]

4. Ah yes the solution of the most advanced civilizations

kill more people :sarcasm:

[marmar]

5. Exactly....

Isn't the U.S. the only "Western" country that executes? Oy vey.

[warrens]

7. What about litterers?

I'm not being facetious. This is the proverbial slippery slope. The DP should be reserved for true monsters, and should be exceedingly rare. Child molesters are truly disgusting, and they should be kept away from children by whatever means necessary, but if you just want them to KILL your kid after the sicko rapes him or her, this is the way to INSURE your child dies.