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The Criminal Truth About Cannibalism

What is cannibalism? We see it as a huge disrespect for human life, but there is a history to cannibalism that simply shows it as part of tribal rituals. Is survival a valid reason to eat another human being? When is at a crime?

Cannibalism is the willful act of consuming or eating a deceased human being. There are several reasons behind the grotesque act, which spurred the government to create statutes and limitations. Individuals have been flabbergasted by the horrific crime, as it portrays disrespect for human life and the dead. There may be other associated crimes committed with cannibalism as it involves a deceased human being. There are a number of documented cases presenting the unique offense.

The Beginnings of Cannibalism

Cannibalism has existed for a very long time. Rituals or simply daily means of livelihood are some of the oldest reasons for cannibalism. Pre-modern human beings engage in human sacrifice and consume human flesh as a religious belief and act. Other olden tribes consider human flesh as a healthy source of nutrition and consume it on a regular basis. Evidence of this is that some modern human beings carry a protective gene that functions to prevent brain diseases caused by eating human flesh.

Approximately a decade ago, there were a number of documented cannibalism cases wherein individuals consumed human flesh as a means to survive. Concentration camps during World War II had malnourished Jews feasting on dead family members, plane crash and shipwreck survivors were bent on feeding on other dead members of the crew and long term famine in very poor countries with deposed governments caused citizens to resort to cannibalism. All these examples are known as cannibalism by necessity. There are mitigating circumstances involved with these acts.

Cannibalism as a Crime

Intentional cannibalism is the act of a person who advertently seeks deceased human beings for consumption. This is more demoralizing by the fact that the individual may resort to a number of misdemeanors to successfully accomplish the task. He may engage in misdemeanors, like trespassing and other criminal offenses like theft, identity theft and murder. It is not common that cannibals murder first in order to acquire dead human specimens.

There are statutes and limitations on cannibalism focusing on respect for human life and dignity for the dead. No person is allowed to consume, demoralize, disrespect or mutilate a deceased human being with or without the consent of significant persons or family of the deceased. It is a violation to engage in any mischievous acts that results to any of the mentioned. Any person found contributory to the act or providing access to cannibalistic acts will be penalized.

Penalizing Cannibals

In the United States, it is illegal to cannibalize. Offenders may be fined from $50,000 to $1,000,000 and imprisoned from three to ten years. Other states have enacted on the death penalty to strongly discourage potential offenders. Since a number of cannibalism cases are related to psychological deficiencies or developmental incapacitations, offenders may be required to spend some time in mental institutions for desensitization treatment and rehabilitation.

In some countries, cannibalism is still considered taboo. Some cultural aspects of the act are still accepted especially in remote areas of the world. As long as there is consent and approval by the families involved, tribes and individuals still gain the right to cannibalize. Modern nations are implementing a lot of laws and extending efforts to fight this.