Death penalty legislation for child rapists to take effect in Tennessee [VIDEO]

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has quietly approved new legislation allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions. The law, which will take effect July 1, allows the state to seek the death penalty for adults found guilty of aggravated rape of a child. The move comes after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a similar bill into law last year, with the first case under the new law being prosecuted in Lake County. While Idaho's GOP-controlled House also passed similar legislation earlier this year, it faced gridlock in the Senate.

A little note, it was quietly signed in May, but many media outlets are reporting on it today. The law comes into effect on July 1. Big win for kids and sanity. Monsters will be removed from society.

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) June 17, 2024

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Supporters of Tennessee's law acknowledge that the state has previously allowed child rapists to be sentenced to death. However, the Supreme Court ruling of 2008, which considered the death penalty in cases of child sexual assault unconstitutional, overturned this provision. Despite this setback, advocates of the law hope the Supreme Court can overturn the earlier ruling, drawing parallels to the long battle to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Gov. Bill Lee, questioned by reporters, stated that he did not sign the bill with the intention of it being tested in court. He emphasized the seriousness of crimes against children, calling them some of the most heinous acts imaginable.

On the other side of the debate, Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern about the law's potential impact. They worry it could discourage child rape victims from speaking out, fearing the possibility of execution. In addition, they argue that the law may inadvertently incentivize predators to resort to killing to avoid harsher punishments.

The implementation of the legislation in Tennessee comes at a time when all executions in the state are currently on hold. State officials are reviewing changes to the lethal injection process after a scathing 2022 report revealed flaws in how Tennessee inmates were killed. However, no timetable has been set for when these changes will be completed.

As the new law moves into the spotlight, debate continues about its effectiveness and ethical implications. It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will respond to a potential challenge and how the law will affect the handling of child rape cases in Tennessee going forward.

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