I support the death penalty for child molesters.

[IdaBriggs]

I do not see child molesters or anyone who knew about this as "patriots" and I support criminal prosecution for any of the psychopaths who indulged their sick fantasies under the guise of "helping America".

I cannot read details of these activities without wanting to vomit.

Dear God in Heaven, there are actually people who want to say that Republicans think RAPING CHILDREN can actually be justified.

[Kennah]

1. GOP is into rape of children, women, the planet, the economy. But I stand against the DP, always.

[IdaBriggs]

4. I cannot see these monsters as human beings.

Maybe it is good someone else can. Fortunately for them, I am not in charge of the planet.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. unfortunately many of humanity's problems can be boiled down to that one statement.

"I cannot see these monsters as human beings." In order to make the world better, we have to try and recognize the humanity in all, including the ones we don't want to.

[IdaBriggs]

11. Why? Bluntly, how do we as a society benefit from having them in it?

I think we need to think more about the victims (and future victims) than we do about the "damaged people" who truly consider raping children and civilians "just another day at the office".

[liberal_at_heart]

12. No one is saying we can't help the victims. We should. But anyone and everyone can justify

hurting anybody else by simply saying the phrase "they are not human." It's too easy to say and too easy to justify doing bad things.

[Orrex]

19. Bluntly, because once a person has been rendered harmless, then execution is murder

Sure, it satisfies some primal, Old Testament need for blood vengeance, but only at the cost of forfeiting the moral authority to condemn their crime in the first place.

Killing a person in self-defense or to stop him in the process of committing violence is one thing, but once in the custody of the state, the prisoner is effectively rendered harmless, so the justification for killing him is eliminated.

[11 Bravo]

28. Murder is the UNLAWFUL taking of a human life. You may not like it, but ...

executions as performed in this country are not "murder". Wrong? Immoral? Unsupportable? Perhaps, but not murder. Calling something whatever you wish it to be does not make it so.
(I called my mini-van a Ferrari this morning, but when I climb in it to go home after work I promise you it will still be a plain, old, Dodge Grand Caravan.)

[Orrex]

34. I am not comfortable killing a person by means of semantic acrobatics

And I have no trouble identifying capital punishment as state-sanctioned murder.

Execution by the state meets all criteria of premeditated murder except that the murderers in this case have the authority to say that it isn't murder.


And you'll have to let me test drive your Ferrari some time.

[11 Bravo]

36. We are almost certainly on the same side of this issue, but after ...

nearly 40 years as a teacher, I confess to being something of a language nazi. (And you are welcome to take my Ferrari for a spin. It seats six, with room left for our luggage, golf clubs, and the family dog!)

[Orrex]

41. I don't fault you for that, especially when you have that sweet ride

Language certainly does matter, but in cases like this I fear that the parsing can provide cover for heinous abuse.

For the record, that was an unintentional pun.

[whathehell]

29. Using a lack of benefit to society as a reason to kill people is actually

a fascistic argument reminiscent of the Nazi program of killing all sorts of disabled

people.

I remember talking to the gay friend of another supposedly "liberal" gay friend, who was

very "nice" and reasonable sounding, but thought the country should "get rid" of the

mentally retarded because they "didn't contribute anything to society"....This is Nazi
stuff.

Admittedly, child molesters are not "innocent' in the same way your average disabled

person is, but you're argument is not sound.

Kept in prison for life due to their high recividism rate?..Maybe...Killing because they

are no "use" to society? -- Absolutely not.

[LeftyMom]

9. The torturers saw their victims as monsters and not as people.

Just something you might want to sort out in your own head before you go posting your half-baked thoughts.

[IdaBriggs]

13. How many times can you anally rape small boys in front of their parents

And still be considered a necessary member of the human race?

[Orrex]

20. What qualifies a person as "a necessary member of the human race?"

How do we make that determination? On what basis? By whose authority?

[Kennah]

43. Sarah Palin isn't, but I haven't heard about any of her crimes that might even qualify for the DP

[Kennah]

42. Koch Brothers are more deserving of the death penalty than a child molester

I still oppose it for them, but I'm fine with life in prison and all their assets seized.

[dumbcat]

44. You are correct

Inhuman monsters should be exterminated. I'm with you.

[tularetom]

2. Do you mean all child molesters or just those who molested under the guise of "keeping us safe"?

I get how you feel about those "patriots" and I agree but do you include the stereotypical creepy-guy-in-a-trenchcoat-hanging-around-a-playground among those you would fry?

I have great grandchildren in grade school and I could gladly flip the switch on anyone who molested either them or by extension any kid their age.

But I almost think I'd be happier doing it to those who raped children allegedly in the name of national security.

[IdaBriggs]

6. As soon as rape or other form of physical sexual assault is involved

between adults and children, especially in situations such as are currently in the news, my default preference is "death penalty".

I am not going to argue semantics, nor am I suggesting the death penalty for someone peeing in the woods.

If you need further details, please feel free to read more of the torture report. I can't.

[petronius]

3. Prosecution? Yes. Death penalty? No.

I oppose the DP across the board, and for many of the same reasons that I oppose torture...

[IdaBriggs]

8. Where would you suggest we keep these sociopaths?

Raping children "for America" is just... I can't even....

[leftofcool]

31. How about G-Bay in Cuba?

[steve2470]

7. Life in prison with no chance at parole is worse than death imho nt

[IdaBriggs]

14. Agreed, which is why I prefer the cleaner solution of putting the sick bastards down. nt

[steve2470]

15. ok, let's look at it this way

If we want to exact revenge upon these bastards, I'm glad you agree with me that life in prison with no chance of parole is worse than death.

Less revenge = being killed by the state at age 50, for example, after years of very costly appeals
MORE revenge = dying in prison at age 65

Justice is not perfect in our country, and never will be. I'm not willing to take a chance that we will kill the wrong man/woman. Another salient point is that child molesters are at the very bottom of the prison hierarchy, which is a very very bad thing for them.

Last but not least: Justice is biased in our country against minority and indigent defendants. The wealthy tend to get off scot-free or with very light sentences.

[IdaBriggs]

16. Crimes against women and children are really not taken seriously.

These activities were not secret. They were detailed and documented.

The people who committed them are still employed, and free.

They have no fear of punishment.

They are being referred to as "patriots".

Since I forgot to take on my rightful role of Empress of the Universe these scum are not going to be hunted down and wiped from the face of the earth.

I can only hope they are treated like the concentration camp employees and live in fear for the rest of their lives.

[belzabubba333]

18. the dp is worse than life otherwise the convicts who were given life would be begging for

the dp ut it's the other way around. cons fight like hell to get off death row and into life without ot the other way around

[Luminous Animal]

10. Gross.

[DesertFlower]

17. i don't believe in the death penalty, but i do believe

they should be locked up in prison for life -- no chance of parole.

[reddread]

22. I would NEVER cede the power of death to a corrupt government, which is all we really have

how hard would it be to set someone up as a child porn freak?
when people cross the line to injure someone, and if they were
so mentally predisposed that they repeatedly threatened or worse
the safety of women and children?
With incontrovertible evidence of multiple transgressions-
CASTRATION and I dont mean with pills.

The only death penalty I can abide is one for lying politicians and officials.

[mythology]

21. I don't support the death penalty in any cases

I don't think it's an effective deterrent or morally justified.

[reddread]

23. consider the deaths and misery a lying politician can cause.

I wouldnt even sweat a humane combination of methods.
let them agonize as so many innocent death row inmates have.

[demwing]

24. I don't support the death penalty for ANY crime

And no longer understand why anyone can. State sponsored revenge murder is inhumane.

[KMOD]

25. I have zero empathy, zero

for anyone who would harm a child, and especially in that way.

There is nothing, nothing, more sick than that.

[marmar]

26. I'm opposed to the death penalty, without equivocations.

State-sanctioned murder should never be an option, no matter how awful the crime.

[Phentex]

33. Same here.

[NCTraveler]

27. You really want to line thousands up at the electic chair?

TV maybe?

[stevenleser]

30. While I understand wanting that in this situation, no DP for me. nt

[Nye Bevan]

32. Lots of DUers supporting a punishment that has long been abolished by most of the civilized world.

Disappointing on a supposedly progressive board.

[Douglas Carpenter]

40. my goodness - I agree with you 10000%

[hrmjustin]

35. The death penalty is wrong and barbaric.n/t.

[sarisataka]

37. Flexible moarlity

is what created this mess.

Committing another wrong will not undo anything, nor will it be justified.

[Iggo]

38. No death penalty. Ever. Period.

[Terra Alta]

39. As horrible and disgusting I find child molesters to be

I just can't bring myself to support the death penalty under any circumstance.

Besides, I think life in prison without parole would be a harsher punishment for these monsters.