(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter today introduced a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the case of Kennedy v. Louisiana was erroneous and that the eighth amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows for the imposition of the death penalty for individuals convicted of the rape of the child.

         “The penalty of execution is reserved for the most heinous of crimes,” said Vitter. “The individuals that commit these acts of cruelty and violence on society’s most fragile deserve the harshest punishment, and I think that the Supreme Court made the wrong decision in this instance.”

         In July, the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Louisiana had overstepped its bounds in applying the sentence of death to Patrick Kennedy who was convicted of the brutal rape of his eight-year-old stepdaughter.  The court ruled that the imposition of the death penalty constituted “cruel and unusual punishment” and reversed the decisions of the lower courts.

         “This case again underscores the need for judges who will adhere to the Constitution as it is written rather than creating new laws,” Vitter said. “I will continue to demand that judicial nominees understand the separation of powers that is an essential part of our country.”

         Vitter was joined on the resolution by U.S. Sens. Dole, DeMint, Coburn, Sessions, Crapo and Kyl.  The non-binding resolution offers the opinion of the Senate but does not constitute a law.