Comments:US Supreme Court overturns death penalty for child rape

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Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal also criticized the court's decision. "One thing is clear: The five members of the court who issued the opinion do not share the same 'standards of decency' as the people of Louisiana," Jindal said.

lol. jindal critcizing others for lack of decency in this instance? - Imind (talk) 00:36, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Here's how I look at it...

Why kill them when we can let them rot away in prison for the rest of their lives and let them reflect on what they've done. --TUFKAAP (talk) 01:13, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

I'll let what someone else said summarize how I see it: Death is death. It's just one thing then BOOM!, it's over. Life without parole is worse, since they basically lose all of their freedom. 72.73.187.77 02:39, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

So your saying "LETS WASTE TAX PAYERS DOLLARS AND GIVE THEM FREE FOOD AND MEDICARE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!" that is what I'm hearing.--66.229.25.248 03:19, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

They still get that free food and medicare while they're languishing on death row and it takes a while for them to actually get their execution date, so while they're hanging out on death row, they're pretty much just serving a life sentence. There's a alot more money that can be blown on other things... such as the Iraq war for example. --TUFKAAP (talk) 04:57, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

ACTIVIST JUDGES STRIKE AGAIN! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.227.110.46 (talk) 06:50, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

you're an idiot. the courts are there to determine the constitutionality of laws. whats the point of a constitution without a body to ensure laws abide by it? -Imind (talk) 18:00, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Death row can be like a life sentence anyway, but it was a symbol of justice, death sentence wouldn't have repaired the damage he did to that poor girl, but atleast it was a message that we respect her... Or maybe I'm wrong I don't know.

My personal feelings on the matter, is that capital punishment is just punishment for murder, rape, torture, and nothing else. But again I could be wrong. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.228.57.113 (talk) 07:40, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

This is a positive development. The death penalty is just a leftover from the middle ages and has no place in a modern society. 74.227.163.17 08:26, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

in order to reduce overall barbarianism in the world it is neccessary that society responds to barbarian crimes with something less barbarian, not more. 131.169.103.150 11:05, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Wrong Decision

The Supreme Court made a mistake in this situation I believe. I think that if a person rapes an innocent child, or in my opinion rapes anyone, he or she should get the death penalty. This is one of the most heartless and phsycotic crimes a person can commit outside of murder. I dont understand the mindset of the people who say the death penalty is "cruel and unusual". Is it not cruel and unsual what these perverts have done to these children. They deserve to die for what they have done. Another thing that I dont understand is how these people fail to see is that if more people were sentenced to death and it was carried out it would make other criminals who were thinking about doing something stupid like rape or murder think twice. They may still commit the crime but at least they thought about it. I guarantee that some of those people would reconsider and lives would be saved and less people would be raped etc... Come on America, we are letting our country go in a very bad direction and if we dont do something about it America will fall. Think about it. And another thing, to the members of the court who opposed the death penalty for raping kids, would you feel different if it were your kids??? I bet you would. And lastly, some people say these people should get life in prison. True they would suffer for the rest of their lives, but are they really suffering? Free meals, free place to sleep, internet and t.v., workout facilities, showers, clothes to wear, etc... Life is better for some of these animals in prison than before. And who pays for all this? Taxpayers like you and I. Quite frankly, Im tired of it. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 72.158.157.2 (talk • contribs) 15:47, 26 June 2008

This is truly a Christian America turning the other cheek! --78.146.106.23 16:28, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm just curious, anonymous: what is your advice when the system wrongfully puts a person to death? What will you (Ie., "you" being those of you who support the death penalty) say to their families once their conviction is posthumously overturned? "Tough luck"? "Here's some cash"? "He shouldn't have acted so suspicious"? I'm just curious what you plan to say. Because it will happen; human judgment is fallible, but death is permanent. --on WP as User:Kasreyn 167.127.107.8 17:10, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

anybody have any evidence to suggest that the death penalty deters crime? didn't think so. -Imind (talk) 18:21, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

@Kasreyn 167.127.107.8

Personally I think a person should be on death row for a long time to prevent wrongful deaths, and I don't like the way some cases were handled.

Ironically I wouldn't have had such a big issue with this, if they were banning death penalty for treason and espionage too, but is treason/espionage worse than rape? What is the message the US SC gave to us and to those children with this decision?

Although I do support capital punishment for rape, murder (with exception of self-defense), and torture, I wouldn't support it for anything else.

On another note, I wonder if we breed more criminals with prisons? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.228.57.113 (talk) 23:55, 26 June 2008 (UTC)

Wash the blood off your fangs people; it doesn't suit you since you're supposed to be humans, not dogs

Standards of decency? In Louisiana? Don't make me laugh.

Death penalty solves nothing, and there is no "justice", only vengeance and the gleeful, shaking-fist-in-the-air of armchair murderers. We do not solve inhumanity by becoming monsters ourselves.

-Victor Sheckels 12.207.133.59 13:16, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Concern over escalation - Courts made right decision

While I agree that child rape is one of the worst non-homicide crimes that can be committed, and while I remain concerned that such crimes as treason and espionage are punishable by death primarily because they always have been, I feel that the decision to overturn the death penalty in this case was the correct one. The reason I believe this is the concern over escalation, not of criminal punishments (i.e. the "descent into barbarism" cited by the justices), but of criminal behavior.

Note my first statement; I believe homicide crimes are still worse, and most people will agree. The death penalty is typically reserved for homicide crimes, as it is the most severe punishment we can mete out. While I don't have the statistics readily available, it is fairly well known that rapes are more often and more easily solved than murders; having a living victim is the primary advantage for law enforcement. As long as rape carries a lesser penalty (i.e. life or less in prison) than murder, the knowledge of the potential penalty is a factor in the rapist's mind. While he/she is less likely to be caught if the victim is killed, he/she will face the death penalty if caught; the higher risk of discovery in leaving the victim alive balances with the lesser penalty. When rape carries the same penalty (i.e. death) as homicide, that check on his/her behavior disappears. It now makes much more sense to kill the victim, as the penalty is no worse, and the chance of being caught decreases drastically.

Granted, not all rapists are intelligent enough to realize this, and will leave their victims alive. However, as rational people, we should take steps to reduce the risk of people being killed, not increase it. --MJ the Prophet (talk) 14:02, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

THE SUPREME COURTS DESICION TO SPARE THE LIFE OF A RAPIST IS UNREAL. WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR 2 YEAR OLD? SPARE THE RAPIST LIFE BUT RUIN THE LIFE OF A CHILD!!!!!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.91.80.98 (talk) 06:27, 2 July 2008 (UTC)

They should kill him. Rape of a child is worse than murder. Why? Because a murder ends a life. A rapist destroys a life. Many of those victimized by rapists took years to recover, and many still relive the trauma. While rape of anyone is bad enough, the rape of a child is a crime so evil, so vile, it deserves nothing but death in the harshest most painful manner possible. These monsters have violated an innocent stripped away thier childhood and ruined their life. Whats worse is as rape is about power, many of these perpetrators with their need to control their victim, dream of raping them again, and some do. Its not a disease, not a sickness and there is no cure. If they did it once they will do it again, no matter how "reformed" the are, the desire will still be in them and eventulally they will seek to satify their sick desire, and perhaps their victims will rest just a bit easier knowing their attacker is gone, and will never harm another. To those of you who have survived, thrived and fought through such an experience, I comend and pray for you. To those whose loved ones have been victims in this most evil manner, stand by them, help them, encourage them and let them fight if that is what they want, but above all understand you cannot relate to them, so do not try. Show them love, support, and understanding, and encourage them to speak out against their aggressor. Perhaps together the United States will see this crime for what it is and the criminals will finally receive their just reward.

A Concerned Person —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 205.56.129.196 (talk • contribs) 15:02, 7 May 2009

I think that as far as brutally raping a child at all emotionaly takes away their life whether it be physical or not. They will never be the same and they will trust anyone. They may as well have killed the person being raped. I believe any offense against a child expecially under the age of 15 should always constitute a more severe punishment. What if it were your child, and they could no longer have you touch them without cringing or crying. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 207.255.139.240 (talk • contribs) 04:52, 18 August 2009