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

[TheSarge]

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.
 
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371353,00.html

[DixieBelle]

Yeah, Sarge. Me too.

I'm sorry but child rape is one of those crimes that would make me support street justice. The swift and harsh kind that costs the taxpayers little.

[Flame]

How is that cruel or unusual punishment????   Execution is too easy, IMO.  It's should be a slow painful death.

[Odin's Hand]

and pedophiles nationwide feel more inclined to roam the streets searching for youngsters to molest without the inhibiting "consequences" to deter them.

[TheSarge]

Yeah, Sarge. Me too.

I'm sorry but child rape is one of those crimes that would make me support street justice. The swift and harsh kind that costs the taxpayers little.

WTF does it say about our society when we won't punish those that do disgusting things to innocent children with the most severe justice we can possibly hand out?

[TheSarge]

The DUmp celebration of this ruling in 3...2...1...

[thundley4]

No surprise that the decision was split right down the line. Liberals never met a criminal they didn't like.  Whatever happened to "think of the children"?

[TheSarge]

This ruling will do to things...it will encourage the sick  to continue molesting kids...and it will cause people distraught over what has been done to their kids to kill the bastard themselves because they know the courts wont do what needs to be done.

It's a lose - lose situation for the children.

[Wretched Excess]

once the supreme court rules on the constitutionality of the death penalty, and they have, why are they involving themselves in when it is to be applied?  the duly elected representatives of the people of louisiana thought it was an appropriate punishment.

[Lord Undies]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken.  

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession.  

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

[Wretched Excess]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken. 

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession. 

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

what about treason?

[DixieBelle]

WE is right. It's a state matter. The Federal courts have had their say on the D.P.

The D.P. isn't about revenge at all. If that were the case, the accused would be turned over to the victim's family. The state acting on behalf of its people, carry out the prosecution and punishment. I believe there are some crimes too heinous for just a life sentence. I don't think it always has to be, "you kill, we kill you back". Some of these cases would keep any decent person up at night if they knew the facts. Death is appropriate sometimes in my opinion.

Color me jaded, but I support Louisiana's decision. It's a shame the highest court in the land seems to be off their meds this month. Let's hope they don't screw up the Heller ruling as well.

[BlueStateSaint]

Yeah, Sarge. Me too.

I'm sorry but child rape is one of those crimes that would make me support street justice. The swift and harsh kind that costs the taxpayers little.

Add me in this feeling.  

[Flame]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken.  

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession.  

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

In a lot of molestation instances, the child's life is ruined....they never recover mentally from what was done to them.  That's just as bad as being killed, IMO.

[thundley4]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken.  

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession.  

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

So we should ignore the mental damage that ruins the childs life, just because the rapist left them alive?  

[Wretched Excess]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken. 

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession. 

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

what about treason?

if the treason committed causes the death of an american, anywhere, sure... other than that, put them in a US ARMY run detention center in Baghdad

** confusing quote tage problem fixed by WE **

[Willow]

Yeah, Sarge. Me too.

I'm sorry but child rape is one of those crimes that would make me support street justice. The swift and harsh kind that costs the taxpayers little.

WTF does it say about our society when we won't punish those that do disgusting things to innocent children with the most severe justice we can possibly hand out?

It say's our more and more secular progressive society dosen't give a sh** about children, that's why we fight tooth and nail to abort them at any age, dump them in garbage cans, you get the picture, what's a little rape! you know the Nambla people are hand in hand with the ACLU trying to normalize pedohillia don't you?

[DixieBelle]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken.  

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession.  

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

In a lot of molestation instances, the child's life is ruined....they never recover mentally from what was done to them.  That's just as bad as being killed, IMO.

Worse IMO. At least death is final and has a beginning and end.

[TheSarge]

once the supreme court rules on the constitutionality of the death penalty, and they have, why are they involving themselves in when it is to be applied?  the duly elected representatives of the people of louisiana thought it was an appropriate punishment.

Easy.  The opponents to the death penalty can't get it overturned completely like they want...so yet again the Liberals are using judicial fiat to to get what they want one piece at a time

[Lord Undies]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken. 

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession. 

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

what about treason?

I think the same way about the death penalty as a sentence for treason.  The death peanlty for treason has an established history but virtually no future in this country, so there is nothing to add.

To clarify, I think the Rosenbergs should have died around 1965 or so from the stress from hard labor.    

[Wretched Excess]

WE is right. It's a state matter. The Federal courts have had their say on the D.P.

The D.P. isn't about revenge at all. If that were the case, the accused would be turned over to the victim's family. The state acting on behalf of its people, carry out the prosecution and punishment. I believe there are some crimes too heinous for just a life sentence. I don't think it always has to be, "you kill, we kill you back". Some of these cases would keep any decent person up at night if they knew the facts. Death is appropriate sometimes in my opinion.

Color me jaded, but I support Louisiana's decision. It's a shame the highest court in the land seems to be off their meds this month. Let's hope they don't screw up the Heller ruling as well.

yep.

first and foremost, the death penalty is about deterrence, which is ultimately a primary means by which our social order defends itself.  it's existence deters those that would consider such a heinous crime from ever committing it, and it is certainly the ultimate deterrent for those that are executed from ever committing the same offense again.  and that isn't a minor argument, considering modern recidivism rates.

[Lord Undies]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken.  

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession.  

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

In a lot of molestation instances, the child's life is ruined....they never recover mentally from what was done to them.  That's just as bad as being killed, IMO.

Worse IMO. At least death is final and has a beginning and end.

My hardcore conservative philosophy is well established.  The fact I don't find fault with this SC decision should give you pause.

[Lord Undies]

WE is right. It's a state matter. The Federal courts have had their say on the D.P.

The D.P. isn't about revenge at all. If that were the case, the accused would be turned over to the victim's family. The state acting on behalf of its people, carry out the prosecution and punishment. I believe there are some crimes too heinous for just a life sentence. I don't think it always has to be, "you kill, we kill you back". Some of these cases would keep any decent person up at night if they knew the facts. Death is appropriate sometimes in my opinion.

Color me jaded, but I support Louisiana's decision. It's a shame the highest court in the land seems to be off their meds this month. Let's hope they don't screw up the Heller ruling as well.

yep.

first and foremost, the death penalty is about deterrence, which is ultimately a primary means by which our social order defends itself.  it's existence deters those that would consider such a heinous crime from ever committing it, and it is certainly the ultimate deterrent for those that are executed from ever committing the same offense again.  and that isn't a minor argument, considering modern recidivism rates.

It is dangerous to establish the premise that the death penalty is about deterrence.  To base it on that premise gives ammo to those who want to do away with such a penalty.

As long as we can all agree the death penalty is purely about "eye for and eye" there is no argument.

[Chris_]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken. 

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession. 

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

what about treason?

if the treason committed causes the death of an american, anywhere, sure... other than that, put them in a US ARMY run detention center in Baghdad

** confusing quote tage problem fixed by WE **

Except that the Constitution - or Title 18 USC for that matter - doesn't put that stipulation into the definition of Treason, or mandate that it be present as an aggravating factor to warrant execution of traitors.

[Wretched Excess]

I am relieved with this decision.  I am not a fan of the Louisiana law.  Yes, I think people who rape children don't deserve to live, but I do not want a door open for the death penalty to be able to be applied to any situation where a life, actual breathing life, has not been maliciously taken. 

A death sentence is not, nor should not be, about revenge.  The death penalty should stand as a clear decision that our society values individual life as the most precious possession an individual has.  It should be applied only when one person has deprived another person of their most precious and irreplaceable possession. 

The death penalty should only stand for "You took his life, so now you can't have yours".

In a lot of molestation instances, the child's life is ruined....they never recover mentally from what was done to them.  That's just as bad as being killed, IMO.

Worse IMO. At least death is final and has a beginning and end.

My hardcore conservative philosophy is well established.  The fact I don't find fault with this SC decision should give you pause.

no one questioning your bona fides, by any means.  but your doubts about the DP shouldn't create doubt in anyone about their own conservative credentials, either.  jus' sayin'

if you want to prohibit the DP in any case not involving the taking of a life, then lobby your state legislature.  but if the duly elected representatives consider it an appropriate punishment in cases of child rape, then the SC decision today is a flat usurpation of democracy in LA.