Death for Child Rapists

A letter writer in the Los Angeles Times writes today on the subject of imposing the death penalty against individuals convicted of the rape of a child. The most curious line: "Death to child predators is necessary, and honor demands it."

Now, I'm a strong opponent of the death penalty. Whether it's murder, rape, kidnapping, or terrorism, I believe that there is no "honor" in killing another human being already locked up and prevented from living any semblance of a life of freedom. The writer writes, "When predators attack children, the public demands a blood debt." And because government exists to serve the will of the people, we're supposed to cave in to the barbarity of "blood debt?"

Believe me, if someone were to harm or kill my children, I would be sick with rage and the need for revenge. No doubt about it. But, I believe strongly that government exists to protect us from the worst parts of ourselves, and to elevate our better selves by fashioning laws that force us to become better people. This is why I trust that life imprisonment without parole for a person who, if uncovered, would likely be killed in prison anyway, is punishment enough.

Child rapists are disgusting people, but they are also very, very sick. That anyone can rightfully argue that these people are not clinically and deeply insane is beyond me. These offenders need tough, unambiguous treatment for their diseases, or quite simply enough medication and long enough incarceration to neutralize the threat they pose.

I'm reminded of the practice of honor killing in Muslim countries, where women are frequently killed for engaging in any kind of premarital sex, including rape. One could take the writer's words in his letter and imagine a Muslim father defending the practice that directed him to dispatch his sons and nephews to kill his daughter.

The last sentence of this writer's letter, however, has me chilled: If [our institutions] fail, do not be surprised if the families and friends of the victims feel that they must personally carry out justice against the monsters who attack their children. Yikes.