Texas House Slows Push For Death Penalty In Child Sex Cases

[kurth]

House Slows Push For Death Penalty In Child Sex Cases

(AP) AUSTIN - With renewed questions over the constitutionality and consequences of allowing the death penalty in some child sex cases, the House Wednesday delayed a vote on a crackdown against sex offenders. The bill, dubbed "Jessica's Law," seeks to add the death penalty for repeat offenses against victims under 14. It also adds other measures to stiffen penalties for sex crimes.

With critics arguing the death penalty in child sex cases is likely unconstitutional and could lead some offenders to murder their young victims, the House put off the bill until Monday. It was a significant change of course for legislation that seemed primed to sail through the House. The Senate is considering a similar bill.

Supporters have called it a strong deterrent against sex crimes, but after about two hours of debate, several House Republicans joined a group of Democrats to ask to slow it down. "Jessica's Laws" are named after Jessica Lunsford, a Florida girl who was abducted and killed two years ago, allegedly by a convicted sex offender.

http://keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_059185603.html

[seabeyond]

1. they say dp strong deterrent to murder but... higher rate of murder in dp states

than in the states that dont have the death penalty.

not to mention i think this is just wrong.

[Eric J in MN]

2. The accused in the McMartin Preschool case...

...were accused of multiple counts against people under 14.

But it was all bull.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMartin_Preschool

[MN ChimpH8R]

3. Blatantly unconstitutional

In one of the Burger Court dp cases back in the 1970s, the Supremes held that the death penalty was constitutionally applicable only in first-degree murder cases. It shouldn't be constitutional at all, IMO.