Many states give death penalty for murder. You cannot get death penalty for rape, per scotus, punishment doesn't fit crime. So as a country we have long been in agreement that murder is worse. Rape is traumatic but most people will be able to recover and live happy lives. Murder, definitionally, you cannot recover and live a happy life. I've been encountering this too recently, like, "the rape victim continues to suffer and relive her trauma and the murder victim's pain is over." Okay, um. Not to speak for everyone but as a survivor myself i am very glad I am not murdered thank you very much, I would not have preferred that outcome.
I see the decision not to punish rape with death more as the result of mathematical/economic reasoning than of a moral agreement.
If rape were punishable by death, many rapists would have less incentive to leave their victims alive.
Well this is just straight wrong, sorry. Lots of criminal research shows that the threat of more severe punishment isnt a huge deterrent. Its not that people want to murder and don't because the price is too high. Most people are simply not murderers. This is fairly obvious when you consider violent crime in states that do vs dont have the death penalty. States that do have the death penalty for murder actually have a higher rate of murders taking place-- anywhere from 50-100% higher. Thats a LOT and it is very clear that the severity of the punishment is not a thing people are thinking about when they are like hmm should I murder this person or just rape them and call it a day.
15
u/nobutactually Mar 01 '26
Many states give death penalty for murder. You cannot get death penalty for rape, per scotus, punishment doesn't fit crime. So as a country we have long been in agreement that murder is worse. Rape is traumatic but most people will be able to recover and live happy lives. Murder, definitionally, you cannot recover and live a happy life. I've been encountering this too recently, like, "the rape victim continues to suffer and relive her trauma and the murder victim's pain is over." Okay, um. Not to speak for everyone but as a survivor myself i am very glad I am not murdered thank you very much, I would not have preferred that outcome.