Part of that article raises some points about the effect the death of the rapist might have on the young victims...yet another way for the offender to bribe them "if you tell anyone, I'll die and it will be your fault."

Thoughts?

Some victims of child rape also support Kennedy. Jody Plauche, now 35, who was raped and kidnapped as a child, says that the possibility of the death penalty adds too much burden to the child.

"A child who's been raped has been through enough," he said.

He points out that the offenders are usually a trusted adult and he worries the children will feel "extra trauma" if they know that the offender might die if the child reports the crime.

Louisiana, Montana, Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas are the six states that provide capital punishment for the rape of a child.

Eight other states and the federal government allow the death penalty for nonhomicide offenses such as treason, espionage, hijacking and kidnapping.