Killing Predators

If American justice was truly just, then this wouldn't have happened.

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A man turned himself in to authorities in the killing of two convicted child rapists, saying he picked the victims from a sheriff's Web site, police said.

Michael Anthony Mullen, 36, called 911 on Monday to claim responsibility for the killings, and officers who talked to him said he gave information that only the killer would know, according to a police news release. He was jailed for investigation of two counts of first-degree murder.

Hank Eisses, 49, and Victor Vasquez, 68, were found shot to death at their apartment Aug. 27. They were both classified as Level III sex offenders, considered the type most likely to reoffend. Sex offenders in Washington are required to register with local authorities, and the information is provided on the Web.

Mullen told authorities he targeted at least one of the two men after checking the county sheriff's Web site July 13, according to the police statement.

I'm not condoning what this guy did, but the fact of the matter is that if we either executed or permanently detained sex offenders, it wouldn't have happened. Hear me now and believe me later, we need stronger punishments for people who hurt kids; or other people, for that matter. That's why I'm in favor of capital punishment (I know, boo, hiss) for murderers, rapists, child molesters, and other violent criminals who prey on their fellow citizens. As far as I'm concerned, we're doing too much to tie the hands of police and corrections officers, and we're doing too much to protect the rights of criminals, some of which they should have forfeited upon commission of their crimes.