The Texas House has approved a bill that would allow for the execution of twice convicted sex offenders whose victims are minors. As someone who is generally anti-death penalty and an adult survivor of childhood sex abuse, I’m quite disturbed by this development.  This is not right.   Sex offenders may harm, but they do not kill which should always be a standard when it comes to deciding if the death penalty should be applied to a crime.
Representative Coleman stated in a written objection that “there remains additional concern that if the death penalty is a possible punishment for continuous sexual abuse of a young child or children, the victim may not report the offense for fear of sending a fellow family member to life imprisonment or death.” My abuse happened over twenty years ago but my gut clenches just thinking that had the whole ‘pedophile’ witch-hunt been in effect at that time, my father would’ve been subjected to a life time of abuse at the very least. The idea of him having been executed because I opened my mouth positively sickens me.
Another dissenter (Rep. Miles) stated that the bill goes to far and that it is, IHO, unconsitutional.  I agree with his assessment.  This is just too much and harkens back to the days before “an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” kicked in.   This is “the whole body for an eye”.  The punishment is completely out of line with the actual crime.
The way I see this, this is just going to cause more problems.  As I said, my own assault happened over twenty years ago. There are still people who are angry that I spoke up.  So angry, in fact, that a prior victim of my father, one of his daughters from another marriage, remained silent all these years, torturing herself.  I remember being told that I was going to put my dad in jail of all things.  I have no doubt that new victims will be told if you don’t shut up, your “whatever” is going to be killed and it’ll be your fault, you ungrateful brat.  Try climbing that mountain.
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