Your substitution is inaccurate. The rulings effectively mean that the death penalty is cruel and unusual except in certain, very specific circumstances. Only t

Your substitution is inaccurate. The rulings effectively mean that the death penalty is cruel and unusual except in certain, very specific circumstances. Only the most extreme crimes qualify. Even the rape of a child is not extreme enough unless done multiple times. It might seem applicable to only a few cases, but that is only because few states attempt to apply the death penalty except in the most extreme circumstances.