Discussion: Should Rape be a Capital Crime? [View all]

[IdaBriggs]

This is a theoretical discussion. Rape is *NOT* currently a capital crime. (And the logistics behind such a change would be immense, which is why this is a theoretical discussion.)

In fact, many people do not consider it a "real" crime, or one that should be reported. (I wish this was sarcasm - see http://www.rainn.org/statistics for details.)

Here is where I find things "interesting" - per the referenced website, "2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim" and "38% of rapists are a friend or acquaintance."

So, assuming you "knew" someone who viciously sexually assaulted you or a loved one, would you want them executed?

Is defining "sexual assault" as an action involving any object penetrating someone else's existing bodily cavity an adequate way of explaining the difference between a regular "assault" (ex: fist on face, bullet through leg, knife in chest, etc.) - and should they be treated differently?

How could the inevitable "it was consensual/no it wasn't" challenges be addressed?

Here are the numbers, per this website: http://www.rainn.org/statistics

About Victims:
- 44% of victims are under age 18
- 80% are under age 30

Sexual Assault Statistics:
-Every 2 minutes, someone in the US is sexually assaulted.
-Each year there are about 207,754 victims of sexual assault.

Reporting:
- 54% of sexual assaults are not reported to police
- 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail

About Offenders:- Approximately 2/3 of assaults are committed by someone known to the victim.
- 38% of rapists are friends or acquaintances.

Are these things "more prevalent" today, or are we just at a point where we are discussing them openly?

NOTE: This conversation is intended to provoke discussion on a discussion board. I am not advocating for or against the positions being discussed.

Share your thoughts, please.

ON EDIT: If you are "anti death penalty PERIOD" as opposed to "anti death penalty for RAPE" please identify. Thank you!