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March 29, 2006
South Carolina bill proposes death for repeat child molesters
As discussed in this recent post, a bill making repeat child molesters eligible for the death penalty has been moving forward in Oklahoma. And now, as detailed in this AP story and this additional presss account, a similar bill is advancing in South Carolina. Here are some details:
The South Carolina Senate agreed Tuesday that twice-convicted child molesters should be eligible for the death penalty, setting aside arguments the move might be unconstitutional.... The proposal was approved as part of a larger bill that sets minimum sentences and lifetime electronic monitoring for some sex offenders. It allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for sex offenders who are convicted twice of raping a child younger than 11....
Such criminals "don't deserve to be on the face of this earth," said Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia, the chief sponsor of the bill dubbed the Sex Offender Accountability and Protection of Minors Act. "In a lot of cases, death isn't good enough for them," Knotts said. Attorney General Henry McMaster ... said he believes South Carolina's proposed law would be found constitutional, and that he would be proud to argue that case.
South Carolina bill proposes death for repeat child molesters
As discussed in this recent post, a bill making repeat child molesters eligible for the death penalty has been moving forward in Oklahoma. And now, as detailed in this AP story and this additional presss account, a similar bill is advancing in South Carolina. Here are some details:
The South Carolina Senate agreed Tuesday that twice-convicted child molesters should be eligible for the death penalty, setting aside arguments the move might be unconstitutional.... The proposal was approved as part of a larger bill that sets minimum sentences and lifetime electronic monitoring for some sex offenders. It allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for sex offenders who are convicted twice of raping a child younger than 11....
Such criminals "don't deserve to be on the face of this earth," said Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia, the chief sponsor of the bill dubbed the Sex Offender Accountability and Protection of Minors Act. "In a lot of cases, death isn't good enough for them," Knotts said. Attorney General Henry McMaster ... said he believes South Carolina's proposed law would be found constitutional, and that he would be proud to argue that case.
Comments
March 29, 2006
South Carolina bill proposes death for repeat child molesters
As discussed in this recent post, a bill making repeat child molesters eligible for the death penalty has been moving forward in Oklahoma. And now, as detailed in this AP story and this additional presss account, a similar bill is advancing in South Carolina. Here are some details:
The South Carolina Senate agreed Tuesday that twice-convicted child molesters should be eligible for the death penalty, setting aside arguments the move might be unconstitutional.... The proposal was approved as part of a larger bill that sets minimum sentences and lifetime electronic monitoring for some sex offenders. It allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty for sex offenders who are convicted twice of raping a child younger than 11....
Such criminals "don't deserve to be on the face of this earth," said Sen. Jake Knotts, R-West Columbia, the chief sponsor of the bill dubbed the Sex Offender Accountability and Protection of Minors Act. "In a lot of cases, death isn't good enough for them," Knotts said. Attorney General Henry McMaster ... said he believes South Carolina's proposed law would be found constitutional, and that he would be proud to argue that case.
Well all gun laws are unconstitutional I think I could live with this one.
Given the average length of time it takes to actually execute someone, it seems like waste to try. I know we want vengeance on people so vile as to harm children but in the end locking them up forever is probably the best solution.
Too old to live...too young to die...
At least for repeat offenders.
have you ever thought of becoming a lawyer?
DWS-
have you ever thought of becoming a lawyer?
I did at one time. However, the thought of having surgery to remove my spine and testicles scared me off.
Go South Carolina, as I have no problem with the death penalty for this crime...[;)]
...but at some point one has to be responsible for ones actions...
Take care with your choice of words, Dale. The law in question addresses only the accountability issue; what it is saying is that medical community preoccupations with responsibility in such cases be damned, there will be consequences regardless. Thus exit possibility of pleas of "not guilty by reason of insanity" heard for other crimes where an accused is said not to have been acting in their "right mind". And it is precisely here where Constitutional issues arise; how can one be held accountable and punished for a crime for which they are powerless not to commit? Simple: Because the crimes are so distasteful and the victims so violated that we really don't give a rat's *.
The problem with with such self-propagating psychoses is finding a way to break the cycle. Obviously to some degree either death or life without possiblity accomplishes that. If you are strolling through the park and find such a person molesting a child then immediate execution is probably justified, but I admit to having problems with society taking revenge as a cold dish. There have now been too many people convicted of capital or life sentence crimes that DNA evidence has later conclusively proven were innocent. Certainly eye witness testimony is the least reliable evidence there is, yet it is often upon such evidence that convictions are based. In a number of rape cases, the victims have later said, "I wanted someone to pay." or words to that effect, admiting they were not sure at trial the accused with the rapist, but wanting someone to suffer for what was done to them. Given that, I sure as hell want to be very sure we have the right person before we throw the switch. Executing innocent people is in no ones best interest.
If they refuse the program or stop co operating send them to the fire squad that day.
I think castration is appropriate in that instance.
At least for repeat offenders.
Maybe for the male offenders ... but what about the females?
Besides, rape is only the tip of the iceberg.
I'm not opposed to the death penalty for this type of crime, but leave it to the lawyers to find a way around it ... its their job but at least a permanent solution is being considered.
? otherwise, you'll find an excuse.
How the hell can an 11 year old or younger have any idea what they are consenting to? or what is involved? Even a 13 year old wouldnt have a clue as to what they are consenting to...
You think you have heard it all and then someone comes up with something even more asinine.
DWS quote:The law in question addresses only the accountability issue; what it is saying is that medical community preoccupations with responsibility in such cases be damned, there will be consequences regardless. Thus exit possibility of pleas of "not guilty by reason of insanity" heard for other crimes where an accused is said not to have been acting in their "right mind".
At one time people thought cigarette addiction was a medical thing. It seems that its becoming more and more a moral issue. This is not because the nature of nicotine has changed, but because the politics of society's oppinion of cigarettes did. Everyone used to know that it was damn hard to quit the habit, and it was beyond the self control and freewill of many. Now if you smoke, you are a weak willed scum.
The problem IMO is that the medical community has no real way to determine for certain if an action is beyond someones self control. I don't think everyone who desire young children follow through and hurt someone. I would think the insanity plea would be more difficult to prove than the medical community would admit. Then there is the media fueled witchhunt syndrome of public oppinion the further complicates it.
Then there is the media fueled witchhunt syndrome of public oppinion the further complicates it.
The very nature of the crime inflames the imagination of the voting public, hence politicians introduce legislation with an eye to staying in office regardless of any moral or practical concerns. No matter that such legislation will not act as a deterrent or change the fact that sexual predation is, at bottom, a mental disease. People only care about the effects of the disease and what should be done with those who engage in it, willfully or not. I think it will come down to whether sexual predators should have the same civil and legal rights as murderers. If this legislation is any indication, they won't.