Some things in the world are indisputably evil. Regardless of religion, political affiliation or nationality, everyone can agree on a few injustices that the world would be better off without. One that lies heavily on all minds is harm to children.
Lynda Marie Kirby sexually abused her son and was sentenced to 125 years in prison, half of which she would serve before eligible for parole. However, the case was reversed on appeal, and Kirby, now a registered sex offender, received only two years in exchange for a guilty plea.
If it wasn't so serious, it would be laughable. This horrible crime that has ruined a child's life was punished with only 730 days of Kirby's. Fortunately, Texas is looking to change that.
According to Fox News, Texas has passed a bill that will permit capital punishment for individuals convicted two or more times of raping children under the age of 6, or children younger than 14 if the crime also involves the use of a deadly weapon, alcohol, drugs, death threats, bodily injury, kidnapping or gang rape.
This idea is wonderful.
Critics argue that a majority of victims know their attackers, and in many cases they are relatives. Some say that if victims know they could put someone in their family to death, they will be more reluctant to come forward with their testimony.
This may be true, but the point is to prevent crimes before they happen rather than just kill all the offenders. If would-be child rapists knows they have the potential to end up with lethal drugs running through their veins, they might be more reluctant to commit the crime in the first place. This possibility is much more desirable than punishment after the fact.
Sex offenders do not deserve to be a part of our society. They do not even deserve to breathe the same air that we do, even if it is behind bars. If someone raped a child and enjoyed it so much that they felt the desire to do it again, what right do they have to the freedoms we enjoy?
Those who have read the book "A Child Called It," are likely to have felt anger toward the kind of person who could physically harm a child - and the child in that book was not even raped. No crime, other than homicide, is more deserving of the harshest punishment our government offers.
There is no down side to this bill being passed. There will be fewer child rapists roaming the Earth, and those here won't be around for long. I take my hat off to Texas for taking a strong stand against second-offense child rapists. Other states should follow.
My only question is, why not the first time?
Megan Molitor is a junior in print journalism. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.
