Tennessee has become the second state after Florida to allow the death penalty for child rapists, with the law offering alternatives like life imprisonment without parole. Despite opposition from Democrats and concerns about the constitutionality of the law, supporters believe the Supreme Court's conservative majority might overturn previous rulings against such penalties. Advocates argue that the death penalty serves as a deterrent for heinous crimes against children, while critics raise issues of cost, trauma on victims during appeals, and potential negative impacts on the LGBTQ community. The law has sparked political debates, with Republicans emphasizing the severity of the crime and Democrats questioning the need for such harsh punishments.