Child rapists deserve to live... (UPDATED and BUMPED)

 ... or at least, that's what our Supreme Court decided today, in what must be one of the most disgusting rulings ever to come out of that chamber.

The nation's highest court ruled by a 5-4 vote that the death penalty for the crime of raping a child violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Writing for the court majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said the Constitution barred a state from imposing the death penalty for the rape of a child when the crime did not result, and was not intended to result, in the victim's death.

Kennedy concluded that capital punishment, based on current evolving standards, should be reserved for crimes that take the life of the victim.

Now, I understand that not all cases of child abuse deserve the death penalty. It's hard to conceive, yes, but I do understand the concept. But for anyone to so use a child and exploit their innocence, their inability to fight back is beyond the pale.

Liberals are always going on about "but it's for the children!!!" Well, now you see their true colors: it's all for the children - except when a convicted child rapist's life is at stake. They would far rather pander to the poor feelings of the criminal, and ignore the cries for justice from the innocent victim.

< p>We kill them in the womb, and we deny them righteous justice.

"For the children," indeed.

God help us.

UPDATE: Leslie Carbone has further details about the rape:

An eight-year-old girl woke suddenly in the early hours of March 8, 1998. Five years later, a jury convicted her step-father, Patrick Kennedy, of her rape. According to state of Louisiana prosecutors, she awoke to the sensation of the 300-pound man atop her small body, one hand undressing her, the other covering her mouth. The bleeding and internal injuries the child sustained from the ensuing rape were so great that she required surgery. Afterwards, according to testimony, Mr. Kennedy called his workplace to say that he would not be in because the child had "become a lady"; he then ordered a cleaning service to remove blood from his carpets before calling 911 to report his step-daughter's attack and request an ambulance. [all emph. mine - but make sure you read her whole article]

This decision by the Supreme Court is a disgusting and obscene perversion of justice.

"Justice" Kennedy, when you say that, according to *spit*"evolving standards"*spit* when "the crime did not result, and was not intended to result, in the victim's death" the death penalty is un-Constitutional, you are a moron. Worse, you stab at the heart of the spirit of the Law, which is to protect and, if necessary, avenge the innocent. Sure, Patrick Kennedy may not have intended to kill his step-daughter, but his actions displayed a callousness, selfishness and depravity which truly springs from the most base elements of humanity.

He may not have intended to kill her, but any thinking person could have seen it was a definite possibility.

You, sir, and the other four "justices" who agreed with you disgust me so much for this decision, that in this case I will take a page from Misha's book and quote:

Rope. Tree. Justices.
Some assembly required.

UPDATE 2.0: Yes, I knew Misha would weigh in on this, although he doesn't use his classic phrase -

I’ve had it with those scum-cuddling, sub-retarded liberal activists.

and he links to Stop the ACLU's post, which quotes the press release from Louisiana's Governor, Bobby Jindal:

One thing is clear: the five members of the Court who issued the opinion do not share the same ‘standards of decency’ as the people of Louisiana. One Justice said that ‘the death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child.’ That is incredibly absurd. The most repugnant crimes deserve the harshest penalties, and nothing is more repugnant than the brutal rape of an eight-year-old child.

You tell 'em, Gov. Jindal!!