Posted on 04/27/2007 9:09:58 PM PDT by zendari
AUSTIN — The Texas Senate passed its long-awaited "Jessica's Law" Tuesday to protect children from sexual predators, but it reserved the death penalty for those twice convicted of the most heinous child rapes.
The bill also creates a new offense for "continual sexual abuse" of a child, increases penalties for certain child sex offenses and removes the statute of limitations for victims of child sex crimes.
"I am confident that this legislation will help protect the safety of our children and send a clear message to those who would prey on them. Don't do it," said the bill's author, Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville.
The Senate's bill now returns to the House, where members can concur or call for a conference committee to work out differences.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
It's a new avenue of discussion though. I don't know how I feel about the Death Penalty in situations where nobody is killed.
“but it reserved the death penalty for those twice convicted of the most heinous child rapes.”
You gotta do it TWICE before we’ll kill you.
Insanity.
Well, that’s part of the problem.
I have no idea why anyone would be let out of jail after the first time.
It all depends on the definition of “heinous”, but when we hear a pretty steady stream of reports of online material depicting adult men raping babies, that tells me there’s a category of “heinous” offenders who should be put to death after just one conviction.
I support the death penalty, but the problem with it is that the scale of punishment ends there. Not that it shouldn’t, but when it does, criminals that know they have already incurred death have no incentive besides conscience to avoid more heinous crimes.
My philosophy is that all first-degree murder should recieve death. Not sure about child molestation, though that should be 20-life at minimum.
If you listen to those opposed to this type of law, all this law will do is ensure that people that commit these crimes will in fact kill thier victims knowing that they will face death anyway.
I of cource disagree, they already know that by being convicted of child rape, most likely they will face bodily harm, even death within prison. Yet they still commit the crime.
In my opinion this law and others like it, lessen the mortality rate of both the convicted and the victims. As the convicted will know with certanty that they will die at the hands of the state, for the simple act commited. Most will not attempt the act knowing that thier death would be the likely outcome. As it stands now most serve less than 5 years in prison.
“You gotta do it Twice before we’ll kill you. Insanity”
No, Texas has it right. It is not unusual in divorces for the wife to accuse the husband of child abuse in order to get custody. Texas requires two accusations (and convictions) in order to impose the death penalty. This prevents the wife from getting the kids and all the husband’s property with one child abuse accusation. That’s my take on the rationale for this law.
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