Kevin Bryant

Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina

Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina

 

about  contact 
facebook
twitter

Search

watch the senate

Archives

Powered by Genesis

death penalty op/ed

July 12, 2008 by Kevin Bryant

Death penalty isn’t too severe for child rapists (Greenville News)
By Sen. Kevin Bryant • July 12, 2008

 

The United States Supreme Court ruled recently that the imposition of the death penalty upon individuals who rape children is “cruel and unusual punishment.” The ruling, a 5-4 decision, initially stuns regular folks who cannot understand why the death penalty would apply to someone who shoots a person versus someone who uses an innocent child for sexual prey.

 

In 2006, the South Carolina General Assembly stood up for children when it passed legislation providing for the death penalty in cases where someone rapes a child. I led the fight for the inclusion of the death penalty sentencing in South Carolina’s version of Jessica’s Law, then making its way through the General Assembly.

 

Justice Anthony Kennedy, the author of the United States Supreme Court opinion, rationalizes the rape of a child as a lesser offense by saying that, “in terms of moral depravity and of the injury to the person and to the public,” they cannot compare to murder in their “severity and irrevocability…” Kennedy’s definitions of “severe” and “irrevocable” apparently do not apply to the rape of a child.

 

Kennedy frets in his decision over the inability to assign aggravating factors to individual cases so that someone who rapes a child might be spared the death penalty. This reflects the height of arrogance, as Kennedy actually tells us that certain rapists of children are better than others. Only in the chambers of the elite wise men could those who brutalize children have some redeeming qualities.

 

Some argue that capital punishment must be reserved only for instances when a life is taken. Consider this argument for a moment. Imagine what is taken from the heart and soul of a child who has been a victim of the horrific crimes. I and my colleagues agree that their life is taken away, if not in its physical sense then to a great degree in its spiritual and emotional sense. Indeed, over 10 percent of all rape victims eventually attempt suicide.

 

Kennedy then repeats the old saw of death penalty opponents: “… punishment by death may not result in more deterrence or more effective enforcement.” Law school apparently failed to teach Mr. Kennedy that death is 100 percent effective in deterring the rapist of a child from raping again.

 

Justice Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee, wrote the dissent, which was co-signed by Justices Roberts, Scalia and Thomas. The rejoinder to Kennedy clearly illustrates not only the illogic but also the true aim of the majority.

 

Alito notes that, “A major theme of the Court’s opinion is that permitting the death penalty in child-rape cases is not in the best interests of the victims of these crimes and society at large.” He continues that, “These policy arguments … are simply not pertinent to the question whether the death penalty is “cruel and unusual” punishment. The Court’s policy arguments concern matters that legislators should — and presumably do — take into account … but these arguments are irrelevant to the question that is before us in this case. Our (precedents) have cautioned against using ‘the aegis of the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause’ to cut off the normal democratic processes, but the Court forgets that warning here.”

 

Alito tells us here what many already know. Kennedy and his liberal brethren are legislating from the bench. The policy preferences of Kennedy and his four allies simply trump the will of citizens acting democratically through their state legislatures.

 

The key in this case remains that Kennedy and his liberal colleagues agree that the death penalty is constitutional but that they disapprove of the way we in South Carolina use it. Five unelected judges have usurped the will of the voters of South Carolina. They now serve as our Legislature.

 

Thomas Jefferson warned us of this when he noted that, “The germ of destruction is in the power of the judiciary, an irresponsible body … advancing its noiseless step like a thief over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall render powerless the checks of one branch over the other and will become as venal and oppressive as the government from which we separated.”

 

I did not seek office to take orders from unelected men and women who offer their prescriptions for society from behind a black robe, and I think that the vast majority of my constituents elected me to represent them, not do the bidding of the judiciary.

 

Our only protection against an encroaching judiciary lies in our ability to select the president who appoints its members. Please remember that in November.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Katon Dawson and Howard Rich

July 11, 2008 by Kevin Bryant

Here’s a video of 2 of my friends and supporters. SC GOP Chairman Katon Dawson and I go back to grass roots work in the Republican Party. He’s done a great job with the party as all except one of our statewide elected positions are Republican. During Katon’s tenure we’ve seen increases in the Republican majority grown in the legislature even though we’ve taken a hit nationally.

The other gentleman in the video is Howard Rich. He’s, New York businessman who I visited with a while back when our family was in the Big Apple. He gave us a few tips on navigating the town and finding good eats. Howie’s a self described “city slicker” who’s wife, Andrea is from Tennessee. Andrea enjoys grits as we sent them a bag from Timm’s Mill, Pendleton’s grist mill in my district.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

SCPRT FUNDING PROGRAM TO MARKET SC AS ‘GAY STATE’

July 10, 2008 by Kevin Bryant

The Palmetto Scoop has learned that the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism — a state agency overseen by the Gov. Mark Sanford’s office — is spending an undisclosed amount of its nearly $14 million advertising budget to take part in the “So Gay” campaign, an effort launched in London, England, by the gay marketing agency “Out Now” to lure homosexual tourists to South Carolina and five U.S. cities.

Out Now is dubbing it “the gayest ever mainstream media advertising campaign” in London.

“South Carolinians will be irate when they learn their hard earned tax dollars are being spent to advertise our state as ’so gay,’” Sen. David Thomas (R-Greenville) told The Palmetto Scoop.  “South Carolina is a wonderful, family friendly destination not a Southern version of San Francisco. This campaign goes against our core values.”

Thomas said he would be calling for a comprehensive audit of PRT, an agency in the governor’s cabinet.

State Rep. Greg Delleney (R-York), echoed Thomas’ concerns, citing questions over “whether or not the governor or anyone in charge at PRT authorized this expenditure.”

“It’s simply unbelievable that PRT would be using our tax money to promote the homosexual lifestyle,” said Delleney.

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer could not be reached for comment.

But Kirsty Dillury, a spokesperson for South Carolina Tourism, called the “So Gay” campaign an important one.

“South Carolina has a lot to offer gay travelers, and we think that people may be surprised to see our destination reaching out to the gay market,” Dillury said in aJune 27 press release. “We are delighted to be involved with the ‘So Gay’ campaign in particular as it sends a powerful positive message to everyone that there is nothing wrong at all with a destination being described as ’so gay.’”

Dillury continued, “For our gay visitors it is actually quite wonderful for them to discover just how much South Carolina has to offer — from stunning plantation homes to miles of wide sandy beaches.” […]

Read the Palmetto Scoop article

See SC Gay Poster

UPDATE (07.11.08):
‘S.C. is so gay’? State says no way
Officials pull overseas ad campaign to lure homosexual tourists
By JOHN O’CONNOR – joconnor@thestate.com
South Carolina is so gay poster
South Carolina’s top tourism agency has canceled an overseas advertising campaign targeting gay tourists.
The campaign, tied to gay pride week celebrations in London, included ads that proclaimed “South Carolina is so gay.” A handful of other U.S. destinations joined the campaign, including Atlanta, Boston and New Orleans.  Read the State Article

Filed Under: Uncategorized

town hall meetings July 21st and July 23rd

July 9, 2008 by Kevin Bryant

ANDERSON COUNTY — South Carolina State Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, is to be the host of two town hall meetings to update Anderson residents on the recently completed legislative session and hear from constituents.

The meetings are scheduled to start at
7 p.m. July 21 at Hopewell Fire Department, 2850 Concord Road
7 p.m. July 23 at Anderson City Council chamber, 401 S. Main St

Filed Under: Uncategorized

op ed in The State Newspaper

July 7, 2008 by Kevin Bryant

Death penalty ruling turns court into legislature

By KEVIN L. BRYANT

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 25 that the imposition of the death penalty upon individuals who rape children is “cruel and unusual punishment.” The 5-4 decision initially stuns regular folks who cannot understand why the death penalty would apply to someone who shoots a person versus someone who uses an innocent child for sexual prey.

In 2006, the S.C. General Assembly stood up for children when it passed legislation providing for the death penalty in cases where someone rapes a child. I lead the fight to include the death penalty in South Carolina’s version of Jessica’s Law, then making its way through the General Assembly. I view no moment of my service in Columbia with more significance than the day we won that vote.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, the author of the latest opinion, rationalizes the rape of a child as a lesser offense by saying that, “‘in terms of moral depravity and of the injury to the person and to the public,’ they cannot compare to murder in their ‘severity and irrevocability.’”

Read More…

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 291
  • 292
  • 293
  • 294
  • 295
  • …
  • 400
  • Next Page »