Yesterday's Supreme Court Decision on Death Penalty Was Messy, But Correct

Yesterday's ruling by the Supreme Court on applying the death penalty to child rapists when no life has been lost was a tough one, but was also correct.

Before I go any further, rape in ANY form is a HORRIFIC crime that does need to be punished by life in prison without any possibility of parole.

"An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, name for a name, life for a life" is a mantra that is often quoted by death penalty supporters, but it also implies some kind of balance in the application of the death penalty. And for the last 30+ years, the death penalty has not been imposed without a special circumstance: the death of the victim as a result of the crime.

I think the possibility of a death penalty wouldn't deter an animal that unleashes this kind of hell on a child anyways; they're going to do it because they think they can get away with it. I think that's a common belief among among criminal elements.

This ruling affects similar laws in six or more states; the federal statutes remain intact.

This is a victory for death penalty opponents, but the victory is bittersweet, given the abomination that child rape is. This ruling can be considered a step forward in creating a more uniform system when the death penalty is being considered, which is good news. In time, I think this court decision will be proven correct.