Should convicted child molesters be eligible for the death penalty?

Question

I've often wondered why convicted child molesters aren't eligible for the death penalty. I mean they've essentially violated a child and changed their lives forever, why not do the same to them? I've been watching Dateline and the number of men preying on children online is staggering. I think they should do more than embarassing them on tv, and throwing them in jail until they can either pay or serve time and go free.
How about some hardcore prison time? How about castration? How about the death penalty if you're a third time offender? I mean these predators are getting bolder with their behaviors...something needs to be done....

I find it very interesting, that some people are able to rationalize the intent of a child predator. I mean come on. How many children have been kidnapped, then killed afterwards? Now compare that to the number of children that have been kidnapped, molested, and set free. I think you'll find that the number of children that die at the hands of predators is staggering. Also, compare the number of [children] kidnappings, molestations, and murders in 2006, with the numbers just 20 years ago. Believe me, you'll strap a deadbolt to every door in your house.
I'm sorry...there's no, maybe they'll release them...or maybe they'll be content with going to prison if the child tells. Give me a break people. There is a war being waged...and our children are the targets....if we don't do something...we will surely regret it.

FYI...the Lt. Governor of Texas has proposed something similiar to what I've been thinking. For the first offense the sentence would be 25 years to life and the death penalty for repeat offenders.

Answer 1

Well if they were eligible, I can guarantee you that many falsely accused people would be dead now.

Answer 2

Dangerous - think it through for a minute.

If you have someone evil enough to molest a child, it is perhaps a fair assumption that the child's interests are NOT foremost in their mind.

If you accept that argument, then imagine now that someone has just molested a child, they have TWO realistic choices:

1. Release the child and fully understand it will go to an adult, report them and they will be arrested and executed.

2. Kill the child - even if they are eventually caught, they cannot be executed twice!!

I have to say I think a HUGE number of children would be molested and then murdered - as it would be in the molesters interest. At least that way they MIGHT get away with it.


It depends a bit what your priorities are, if you are prepared for more children to be murdered after being molested, then yes, you can make the punishment for molestation the same as for murder.

VERY sadly, in the UK, this is basically the case when young children are molested - and as a result, they are almost always killed. Older ones - where penalties are NOT quite so severe - are usually allowed to live.

Your other ideas (castration, prison time) may be safer for the children. Whatever you do, I suggest you MUST ensure that it is in the interests of the molester to RELEASE the child so it may live.

It will be interesting to see what other reasoned points, folks can come up with.

Answer 3

They should be candidates for the death penalty. Though they can attend treatment, they can never be 'cured' and they will always be a threat to society (children).

I think back on the case of Wesley Allan Dodd in Washington state. He murdered (mutilated) a couple of little boys - and yes, he admitted to being sexually aroused by it. He tortured them to death. When asked if he would do it again were he ever to be released, he said, "Yes."

There is no cure for pedophilia.

I would argue that those who claim that death isn't appropriate because the child didn't die don't really have a terrific grasp on what molestation (or worse) does to the children who do live. For the record, there are many that don't. Yes, many survive. But at what cost?

Just because a human being survives abuse doesn't mean that they fully recover.

It is true, though there are very few individuals that I truly hate, child molesters are among the ones I do.

I've worked with many abused children. I have very little empathy for those who violate innocents.

I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Answer 4

As in all criminal cases, punishment is a matter of intent & severity of the crime. A guy who sends suggestive email messages to a 17 year old does not deserve the same penalty as a guy who rapes a different little kid every week year after year. And a guy who rapes & kills someone should be given the same sentence as any other murderer - the death penalty. Usually the judicial system hands down the appropriate punishment for a given crime, sometimes they are too lenient or too severe but many molesters do receive hard core prison time, and in many cases those molesters don't survive the predations of their fellow convicts.

Answer 5

If it is proven beyond a shadow of doubt, they should be, but then again, some people claim....OH they are to be loved, we should feel sorry for these types,...I say "OK, let them live with YOU'...OH HELL NO....If a person claims they were molested, proven they weren't...the accused should be able to sue, the person doing the blaming, should see jail time...There was a t.v. show that interviewed these types of pigs, they said "Don't let me out of prison, I will harm another child"..but they are turned lose anyway, I think MOST men make up our laws...I think they think, Gee I wouldn't want to have my face tatooed/branded/penis cut off, and it was only a little sex, the child will get over it...." I say if it is proven beyond a shadow of doubt, tatoo or brand their face, this will warm others of their intent....and they will suffer the rest of their lives, as the child sufffering, why should these pigs, just get turned loose...?

Answer 6

If Draconian punishments worked, then the war on drugs would be over.

I get so upset when I hear otherwise rational people make the statement that child molesters should get death.

Most of the time, they haven't killed the child. Yes, the child is changed forever, but he/she LIVES. If you make the punishment death, then what would be stopping these men from killing the children EVERY time. You still wouldn't stop them and then you would have more dead kids, great solution.

Yes, the numbers seem staggering when you watch a show like Dateline, but we are a nation of 300 Million people, it is only a small fraction that are breaking the law. And yes, these men need to be punished to the full extent of the law. And yes, these laws should be harsh, the days of 3 years for molestation should be in the past.

And as far as castration, that have proven that it does not stop the urges to dominant, control and hurt children, so again, not really sure what this accomplishes, except hatred of society and its rules.

Our system of law and order is ridiculous, we had better get control of it soon.

Answer 7

Of course child rapists and all murders should be executed. The reason that they are not is because of liberals and liberals exploitation of poor, minorities, criminals, illegals and rapists for political gain. Liberals don't want criminals severely punished because liberals believe the fundamental evil in our society is caused by capitalism. Liberals relate to sex offenders, murderers and rapists as victims of the evils of a world made unfair via capitalism and evil corporations. The offender is not fully responsible for their crime because the offender would never have committed these acts if it were not for the environment they were raised in-capitalistic society. Almost all criminal defense lawyers are far left liberals. Hollywood is constantly churning out movies and TV shows, depicting an innocent person executed for a crime they did not commit. Hollywood ignores the vast numbers of criminal who have killed, raped, beaten and stolen throughout their lives. They would rather release a thousand criminals back into society in fear of punishing a single innocent person. If a rapist hurt a child, in your family, would you praise the liberal who sides with the criminal? Execute child rapists and murderers, everyone of them. Liberals can hold sympathy parties for the executed criminal while the victim's families can get justice.

Answer 8

Yes, in fact I believe serial killers, people who plot a murder but have others commit them (a la Charles Manson), and all types of rapists including child molesters should go on death penalty. It should also be federal law that prisoners on death penalty should be executed within a week or two instead of waiting years and wasting our money.

Answer 9

child molesters should be hung by the bal*s!!!i know a man who raped his daughters and said that he was ashamed of what he did and he asked for god's forgiveness....and when his daughters had children he molested them!!!so it just goes to show that they will always molest children!!give them the death penalty and rid this world of them!!if anybody did that to my children i personally would kill him!!!

Answer 10

Yes

Answer 11

Reading the book instead of watching the movie is the best way to see what the author designed. Reading uses your creativity, hones your reading skills, and can better your vocabulary