Tennessee and Florida have passed laws allowing child rapists to face execution, imprisonment for life, or life without parole.
Despite a previous Supreme Court decision deeming executing child rapists as unconstitutional, supporters of the death penalty for such crimes hope the conservative-leaning court will reconsider.
“Maybe the atmosphere is different on the Supreme Court,” Sen. Janice Bowling stated. “We’re simply challenging a ruling.”
The case of Patrick Kennedy, convicted of raping his stepdaughter, exemplifies the severity of the crimes in question, sparking debates on the appropriate punishment for such heinous acts.
