http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/06/25/dead.witness.ap/index.html

Now this is worthy of true outrage. If you kill the witness their testimony cannot be used against you. Expect to see more witness “tampering” after this judgment.

mistressjustice said: My horror and disgust with the act doesn’t cloud my overall desires for fairness and justice, and a desire for my government to hold itself to a higher standard than our own base instincts for revenge.

Revenge, in the form of the death penalty is justice; especially when it comes to scumbags like Kennedy. The death penalty is the last full measure of earthly punishment granted for heinous crimes that deserve no less. ‘Base instinct’ is not always a bad thing, so don’t even try to attach that connotation. If the death penalty makes you squeamish, just think about what that little girl went through.

The Supreme Court has the right and the duty to ensure that the laws of our country at every level are compliant with the constitution.

Those are what I call predators and honestly, there is no rehabilitating them, hang them all that are found to be this sick like this bastard was. Get a ROPE!

Imagine how many victims would be spared if their attackers had received justice the FIRST time they violated someone else.

AMEN

The Supreme Court over ruled a State law. They hadn’t the right to do that. They stretched the 8th ammendment to do so.This is getting to be a habit with these five (justices?).

I agree that the complexities of a rape case are beyond my comprehension but a group who speaks for the victims should be working to further empower the victims not in my opinion capitulate. In my opinion we need to send strength and support to the victims and a clear message that the victims have done nothing wrong. It is in their best interest to testify against their aggressor knowing that the criminal will be punished for their evil deeds.

Again, I am also against the death penalty so my argument is not against the end result it is against their reason.

“Most child sexual abuse victims are abused by a family member or close family friend,” the group said in a statement. “The reality is that child victims and their families don’t want to be responsible for sending a grandparent, cousin or long time family friend to death row.”

Even supporting the notion that the victim is responsible for the consequences imposed on a rapist is vile in my opinion and harms their cause (and credibility).

I respect your even-tempered viewpoints. But I don’t see this rape advocate position means that anyone should support a notion that a victim is reponsible for a punishment imposed on a rapist.
Rather, I think it reflects a reality for some, since rape is often within the family or close to the family, there are complications and added pressures of victims coming forward knowing that someone close to them, or close to their family will be put to death. These fears could hinder proscutions if the victims are more unwilling to come forward, which obviously makes society less safe.

It’s not fair that a victim should feel this burden, but that doesn’t mean that this possibility is something that shouldn’t be considered when formulating legislation. Heck, getting young victims to come forward is often difficult enough, but adding the cloud of capital punishment wouldn’t help…wrong and unfair as this may be.

Although they may work as an rape advocate that does not make them the authoritative figure on the legislation required to prevent and punish rape crimes.

Perhaps not, but it makes them a lot more credible than you on the subject.

No one is saying the victims are “responsible” for the punishment of the perpetrator or blaming them in any way, but…real life fact here…prosecution of these folks almost always requires the cooperation of the victim. Anything that has the effect of discouraging such cooperation deserves some scrutiny. not saying it should be the first or last word, but it should be considered.

Anyway…kind of a moot point now. Can’t execute them in any case.

I disagree with your argument and will not stoop to your level and through insults.
Although they may work as an rape advocate that does not make them the authoritative figure on the legislation required to prevent and punish rape crimes. Even supporting the notion that the victim is responsible for the consequences imposed on a rapist is vile in my opinion and harms their cause (and credibility).

The argument that we should limit the penalty of a crime so that the victim is not “responsible” for the criminals punishment has got to be the sickest thing I have heard in a long time.

It is not “sick” to consider the real practical implications of a decision. And if it is the “sickest” thing you have heard in a long time then come back from Candyland and join the rest of us in a little thing we like to call “reality.”

Something tells me that when a victims advocacy group that works with over 80 rape crisis shelters says that there could be unintended consequences to the death penalty, we should probably at least listen.