OKLAHOMA CITY - Sponsors say a bill to permit repeat child molesters to be executed is neither cruel nor unusual, but experts say it could make matters worse for victims of sex crimes.

The measure by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, flew though the Senate last week, 40-7. It goes on to the House, where it is sponsored by Rep. John Carey, another Durant Democrat.

The most obvious question about the bill - its constitutionality - was raised during debate on the Senate floor by Bernest Cain, D-Oklahoma City. Mr. Cain, a lawyer, called it "a redneck re-election bill."

It's been more than four decades since a person was executed for a sex crime in the U.S., and in 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked an execution in a rape case, ruling it was cruel and unusual punishment.

Legal scholars say that although myriad capital crimes are still on the books in many states, the Supreme Court has effectively limited the nation's ultimate punishment to murder cases.

"I consider this to be the most horrible of crimes," he said. "I think it is every bit as bad as murder, if not worse, because the ripples of child sexual abuse goes through the victim's life."

Even those who feel as strongly as Mr. Gumm about the seriousness of sexual offenses, however, are not as sure such legislation would pass constitutional muster.

"I would be a little bit surprised if the Supreme Court approves of that, but I have been wrong before," said Wes Lane, Oklahoma County district attorney.

"Nobody around here has any sympathy for child molesters," added Mr. Lane, saying he would gladly enforce such a law if it were upheld by the Supreme Court.

Richard Dieter, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C., said that Louisiana passed a similar law several years ago, and that one man has been convicted under it and sent to death row.

Mr. Dieter said his organization takes no position on the death penalty but serves as a resource, supplying information on the fairness of the death penalty's application and the possibility of someone being wrongfully put to death.

Before the Supreme Court rulings in the 1970s, the death penalty was imposed for a number of crimes, including criminal assault and kidnapping in California in the 1960s.

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