Today the Supreme Court shut down a law allowing child rapists to be put to death because, "The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in his majority opinion. (Read entire article here.)
I beg to differ.
The rape of a child most certainly destroys a life. When an eight year old (what this particular case is based off of) is brutally raped by her step dad, her life has been torn from her as she knows it. Her innocence has been betrayed, and her life hereafter will reflect the deep wounds of her heart, which are usually much more painful then physical wounds. We can only hope for her healing, but until that takes place (if it ever does) she will most likely act out in ways that will dig her life (and potentially others lives) deeper into a pit of self-destruction and despair. I pray this doesn't happen, but statistically, it probably will. This little girl's life has been taken. The wicked man who committed this outrageous crime should not live to breathe another breath.
Do I believe in the death penalty? You bet. Especially when it comes to the rape of innocent little children.
*Update
I received a very thought-provoking comment and wanted to put it right on this post for you all to see:
"As a Mom, and former child abuse/sex crimes investigator...I hear you and agree with you about the devastating seriousness of the crime. Buuuut, I have never stood behind the death penalty. Every single life is sacred.....no matter what sins one commits, there is forgiveness and redemption available. I don't feel it's our (collective our...as a nation) right to choose when a person dies. God decides. Vengeance is His. Look at Paul......there is always hope and redemption available to anyone, even the most heinous sinners and criminals. It is VERY hard to separate feelings about the crime from the criminal though. Just as it can be hard to separate feelings about the sin from the sinner. But in my heart, I'd rather a person live the rest of their days locked in prison as opposed to being killed by the state...if it means they might have a chance to come to know The Lord and be forgiven and redeemed. Very difficult subject. Thanks for blogging about it :-)" Tiffany
He Ran to His Son
1 week ago
5 comments:
I agree with you! This is so sad. We need to pray for our country and our government!
Whoa. That's a rough one. If I said I don't agree. I would be lying, because if something awful on that scale happened to my 8yrold...I would want blood. And the whole eye for an eye just wouldn't cut it. How to punish such an act to equate the crime? As a mother, I vote for death penalty at least being an option. As a citizen? Don't know. Can't really separate the mommy from the person?
Does that make sense?
Amen
As a Mom, and former child abuse/sex crimes investigator...I hear you and agree with you about the devastating seriousness of the crime.
Buuuut, I have never stood behind the death penalty. Every single life is sacred.....no matter what sins one commits, there is forgiveness and redemption available. I don't feel it's our (collective our...as a nation) right to choose when a person dies. God decides. Vengeance is His. Look at Paul......there is always hope and redemption available to anyone, even the most heinous sinners and criminals.
It is VERY hard to separate feelings about the crime from the criminal though. Just as it can be hard to separate feelings about the sin from the sinner. But in my heart, I'd rather a person live the rest of their days locked in prison as opposed to being killed by the state...if it means they might have a chance to come to know The Lord and be forgiven and redeemed.
Very difficult subject. Thanks for blogging about it :-)
Remember the end of Braveheart ...that's what should befall anyone who harms a child.
M ^..^
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