Sunday, November 4, 2007

Punishable By Death

Sounds good to me:

Murdering a service member would be a federal crime, punishable by death, under a bill introduced Thursday by Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Pa.

The “Capt. Scott Corwin Armed Forces Protection Act” would treat the murder of, attempted murder of or conspiracy to murder a member of the military as the same level of crime as the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer.

Under current law, it is a federal crime to murder a member of the military only if the accused knows the victim is a service member. Murphy’s bill, HR 3884, would treat service members murdered when in civilian clothing or in settings where it is not clear they are in the military the same as undercover law enforcement officers, Murphy aides said.

The bill is Murphy’s response to the 2004 shooting death of Army Capt. Scott Corwin in Savannah, Ga., as Corwin was returning home in the historic district of that city. Corwin’s shooting is unsolved.

The Corwin family has formed a foundation in his name that is raising money for a soldier and family support center to be located near Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and is also establishing a scholarship in his name.

When one says 'I Support The Troops', this is the sort of thing we should mean.

h/t: beachbaby

2 comments:

golf charlie said...

After three and a half years, the murder of Captain Scott Corwin (West Point'99) goes unsolved. It seems the emphasis of HR 3884 is for FEDERAL jurisdiction in these matters. Captain Corwin was gunned down in cold blood in the streets of America, and the authorities in Savannah apparently have quit on the case, on Scott, and his family. It is a damn shame that we cannot find justice for an officer of the United States Army in the nation that he swore an oath to protect. He was an employee of the federal government, and they are able and should be willing to step up for someone who gave so much for all of us.

gigs said...

Since it's impossible to know intent in this particular crime, the feds should be investigating it. It's a damn shame nothing has been solved yet. I will continue to pray for Scott and his family, and for justice to prevail.