It's really getting rediculous how many of them there are and the fact that they don't seem to care and repeat the crimes over an over. Really, I'll even volinteer to help the cause.
2007-08-04 01:05:11 · 9 answers · asked by Scarlett 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I am with you on that sister!
2007-08-04 01:08:14 · answer #1 · answered by cindy h 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, being a pedophile is not illegal. Just like having fantasies of rape are not illegal -- you cannot punish someone solely for their thoughts.
They have to either commit a crime or attempt a crime before they can be punished. And thinking bad thoughts is not a crime if the person never acts on those thoughts.
Second, any criminal action (in the US) requires a trial and proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. We did away with lynch mods quite some time ago.
Third, castration is not a valid punishment, since it violates the 8th Amendment. Besides, it would have no effect on stopping child molesters, so it doesn't even accomplish your goal -- all it does is cause pain to someone, and our criminal laws don't allow punishments that have no other purpose than vengeance.
If you want this kind of justice, you need to move to a country that doesn't have any civil protections, where people can be stoned to death in the public square for committing sins, and where the govt is not required to actually prove crimes before torturing or killing people. There are still a few such tyrannies in the world, so take your pick.
2007-08-04 08:28:47 · answer #2 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
And what happens if we castrate a convicted pedophile only to find out later that he's innocent?
The same goes for those facing the death penalty. Is killing a convicted criminal justified, even if we find out years later that he was innocent?
Justice is only served if it's administered with absolute fairness, a sense of compassion, and 150% ccertainty that the punishment has, indeed, fit the crime. If one person is wrongly put to death (or castrated) for crimes we ultimately discover he didn't commit, we have violated the rights of that person, and have made a mockery of our subscription to a fair and just judicial and legal system.
As long as the rest of us are not perfect - or none of us is God - we have no ethical propensity toward doling out punishments that cannot be usurped, corrected or forgiven. -RKO- 08/04/07
2007-08-04 08:20:27 · answer #3 · answered by -RKO- 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There have been some cases of chemical castration being used (I think in Texas but am not sure) in exchange for release.
2007-08-04 08:08:53 · answer #4 · answered by CHARITY G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because we're a nation of laws and people have the right to a fair trial...and most of us wouldn't want it any other way.
2007-08-04 10:51:58 · answer #5 · answered by EMAILSKIP 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about. If they do get convicted and go to prison, lots of them get raped themselves before they're beaten to death. Even cons don't like baby rapers.
2007-08-04 08:51:18 · answer #6 · answered by Izzy N 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll supply the scissors!
2007-08-04 08:20:42 · answer #7 · answered by Haluai 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It would be cosidered cruel and unusual.
2007-08-04 08:08:43 · answer #8 · answered by CSSW 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just shot would be more useful.....
2007-08-04 08:46:29 · answer #9 · answered by lordkelvin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋