Death Penalty for Child Molesters Survives Partisan Politics; Two Measures Move Forward – One Could be Law in Days

Following is a statement by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, author of SB 1747, the original bill authorizing the death penalty for repeat child molesters. That bill was not granted a hearing in the House Corrections and Public Safety Committee.

Instead, the committee took the provisions of SB 1747 and put them into another bill by a different author Tuesday. Earlier in the day, Gumm successfully amended a HB 2538 on the Senate floor to include the death penalty provision. That measure now returns to the House for an “up-or-down” vote on whether to accept Gumm’s amendment.

“I’m grateful House leaders – after more than a week of stonewalling – either ‘saw the light’ or ‘felt the heat’ and finally let the issue of the death penalty for repeat child molesters have a hearing.

“It is extremely regrettable that partisan politics slowed down this important issue. We in the Senate have again sped up the process by amending a House bill to include the death penalty language. Now that they have come to their senses, House leaders can act quickly and get this single, critically important issue on the governor’s desk within days.

“Stealing an idea is called ‘plagiarism’ in most places; in the House, they call it ‘standard operating procedure.’ Regardless, the time for games has passed. The House should accept the Senate amendments to HB 2538 and get the death penalty for child molesters to the governor without further delay.”