Lets stir up some controversy

First let me start out by saying that I hope people can respect each other's opinions in the following very touchy subject: (in the event that you feel the need to insult someone else, please refrain from posting, part of what make this site and world wonderful is people are not all the same, and neither are their opions).

Now that I've added the little disclaimer:

The Supreme Court decided today not to extend the death penalty to convicted child rapists. Personally I am pro-death penalty in certain instances. This is one of them.
I dont think it should be something given out like candy. However, it takes a different type of evil to rape an 8 year old child. In the case in front of the court a step father raped his step daughter (I think she was 11 at the time).
This decision had been brought to court in an effort to extent it to include those convicted of rapping children younger than 12.

I think it should have been extended.
Thoughts?

I think someone who does something so horrific deserves worse than to get a injection that will simply make him go to sleep.

In cases like this, one can only hope for 'prison justice'.

I believe any person that inflicts such horrific pain and suffering on a child - be it the parents of NyxMarie, a child rapist, the sick man who beat his son to death on the side of the road - all deserve fates worse that government-approved methods of executions.

I think people who do these things are simply 'not natural' - because it takes someone very disturbed and heartless to do these things to the world's most precious gifts.

When I was in undergrad, one of my professors was a sex offender therapist, who told me that the 'jail justice' thing that everyone thinks child rapist get in jail isnt always what acutally happens.

I think in part you are right and see where you come from.

I think there should be a 'torture' sentence.

Putting someone to sleep in this case isn't justice in my opinion.

This was a premeditated act that that was completely intentional. He is obviously sick and twisted and has no self-worth. I don't think the death penalty is punishment enough. But neither is a life sentence in prison.

From a counselor's point of view:

Sadly, those who physically/sexually abuse (and rape children) are often times people who have been abused as children themselves. I can't say I have a good solution to this horrific crime though. Part of me thinks they should be burned alive... b/x its so terrible. But I don't thinking killing them or torturing them is the solution as its not solving anything... its just perpetuating this cycle. Something in the form of rehabilitation has to be done but that will never be properly funded or handled...... so I don't know what to say.....
SAD...

British Journal of Pschiatry findings from 1 related study (excerpt of Results):

'24% of the reported non-victims were perpetrators (146 of 612);

51% of reported incest victims were perpetrators (24 of 47);

61% of reported paedophile victims were also perpetrators (46 of 76);

75% of those who reported that they were victims of both incest and paedophilia were also perpetrators (9 of 12).'

Troubling!

I was shocked and appauled when i saw that on MSN today. I personally am for the death penalty in situations such as child rape. There is no justice in this world that would take away the pain and suffering that person caused and I do not feel they deserve 3 square meals a day on my dime while there are people struggling and living on the streets who do not commit crimes. This needs to be overturned- not sure if that is possible now

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Posted by mls282

From a counselor's point of view:

Sadly, those who physically/sexually abuse (and rape children) are often people who have been abused as children themselves. I can't say I have a good solution to this horrific crime though. I don't thinking killing them or torturing them is the solution as its perpetuating this cycle. Something in the form of rehabilitation has to be done but that will never be properly funded or handled...... so I don't know what to say.....

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I agree that rehabilitation would be the best case senario but unfortunately all too often these criminals make it through the rehab process and become repeat offenders. It's a no win situation. It's sad that this is even a topic of conversation and that this is what the world has come to. All we can do is raise our children to respect human life.

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Posted by MyLobster

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Posted by mls282

From a counselor's point of view:

Sadly, those who physically/sexually abuse (and rape children) are often people who have been abused as children themselves. I can't say I have a good solution to this horrific crime though. I don't thinking killing them or torturing them is the solution as its perpetuating this cycle. Something in the form of rehabilitation has to be done but that will never be properly funded or handled...... so I don't know what to say.....

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I agree that rehabilitation would be the best case senario but unfortunately all too often these criminals make it through the rehab process and become repeat offenders. It's a no win situation. It's sad that this is even a topic of conversation and that this is what the world has come to. All we can do is raise our children to respect human life.

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I know... thats why there is no easy solution. Some children suffer from abuse but are resilient and overcome their trauma and don't become perpetrators and others do it. Nothing is sadder then when I hear stories of people whoe were brutually abused and raped growing up and then they re-enact this as the perpetrator. And then what... they sit in jail forever or are put to death. What a horrible life?!!!

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Posted by emomma17

I do agree that the death penalty is way to easy for someone that committed an offense such as that.

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I recommend torture in prison!

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Posted by pa56

I'd be in support of the death penalty for child rape only if it were 100% accurate. I wouldn't want someone completely innocent to die - which has happened.

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But how can you make sure it's 100%?

People who are sentenced to death- sit on death row for years..awaiting appeal hearing and such.

I'm 100% for the DP for child rapists. I honestly don't believe people like that can be rehabbed. And why should they be? They did it already, the damage is done. They need to be punished for what they did. We don't need to spend millions as tax payers to give them a second chance. I'd rather my tax $$ be spent getting some justice in the world. People that rape children are sick. They don't deserve to be afforded any of the liberties we are given. They don't deserve to sit in a jail and watch television, get recreation time on our tax dollars!

It actually costs more to have someone sit on death row than have them serve life in prison without parole.

Death row = appeal after appeal which means more of our tax dollars spent for nonsense courtroom drama, healthcare/medical costs, solitary confinement costs more...

I don't know what the answer is. Child rape is the lowest of the low.

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Posted by MEMEJOR

You know what makes me SO nervous... The wrongfully convicted... There are people that are sitting in jail and didn't even commit the crime...

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I agree - the risk of putting an innocent person to death is higher than it ought to be - our justice system is flawed. this is the only reason I would be hesitant about the death penatly in general, not just for child rapists.

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Posted by MEMEJOR

You know what makes me SO nervous... The wrongfully convicted... There are people that are sitting in jail and didn't even commit the crime...

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i agree....for the one person wrongly executed, it's hard for me to be for it.