For someone who opposes capital punishment (except for political murderers like Saddam who have too many adherents to be allowed the chance to escape), I am in an increasingly draconian mood concerning punishment for convicted sex offenders. The latest case of Joseph Edward Duncan III –who allegedly kidnapped eight-year old Shasta Groene after murdering her family members and is now revealed to have molested both her brother and her–is particularly stomach-turning.
“This little girl really went through more than any little girl should ever have to think about,” Kootenai County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said Tuesday.
To put it mildly.
Meanwhile, Megan’s Law continues to be irregularly enforced. Maybe the cable news obsession with these lurid cases can have some positive effect. No, I’m not talking about capital punishment for these characters, satisfying as that may be emotionally to some, but absolute assurance that they will not be able to murder and molest children again. If we make Martha Stewart walk around with a homing device for some minor stock hanky-panky, we should be able to think of something to prevent these horrendous crimes. And fast.
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