The Supreme Court recently ruled life sentences without the possibility of parole administered to minors violates the “Cruel and unusual punishment” clause in the 8th amendment of the Bill of Rights. The court based their decision on the actions of Terrance Graham a Jacksonville, Florida minor who committed two armed robberies and brutally raped a sixteen year old girl.

What punishment would have been administered had either robbery victim pulled out a shot gun, and blew Master Graham’s head off during the commission of those crimes? What if the minor girl pulled out a pistol while being raped, and shot Terrance in the head? In both cases the death penalty would have been administered by the victim using self-defense provisions of existing law.

Is Justice Anthony Kennedy unknowingly sending a mixed message to the public? Does he want us to believe rape and robbery victims are violating the 8th amendment if they kill the attacker during an assault?  Terrance Graham received a lucky break getting life without parole, when it could have easily been death by victim.