The House of Representatives on Monday approved a contentious bill that would enable the state to pursue the death sentence for anyone found guilty of child rape, completing the last legislative obstacle before the bill becomes a Tennessee law.
House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) introduced HB1663, which would permit the death penalty for individuals found guilty of rape in Tennessee, particularly cases involving the aggravated rape of a minor.
Democrats fiercely opposed the action, claiming the General Assembly was enacting a law that was obviously unconstitutional.
Sen. Kerry Roberts opposed the bill as well, stating that although he disagreed with the Supreme Court’s rulings upholding the death penalty’s classification as a cruel and unusual punishment, enacting the legislation would not, contrary to what some of his colleagues may have hoped, aid in the overturning of Kennedy v. Louisiana.
Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) joined Democrats in opposing the bill, which was ultimately supported by the Senate 24-5, despite Roberts’ attempts to alter it.
On Monday, April 22, the House was the bill’s final destination within the legislative body.
Democrats in the floor discussion reiterated the same points raised by their Senate counterparts, namely that the death sentence is an ineffective deterrent to the horrible crime. It was argued that the law would instead increase the likelihood that victims would remain silent.
Read More:Â Tennessee Senate Takes Step Toward Authorizing Death Penalty in Child Rape Cases
The death sentence, according to Rep. Aftyn Behn, is “incompatible with the right to life,” and enacting this legislation would not assist the actual victims of the crimes.
Rep. Gloria Johnson repeated Behn’s remarks, stating that child rape and child aggravated rape are already offenses for which 100% of the sentence must be served. It was not the wisest course of action for the state to prosecute the offenses by making the death sentence a possibility.
Although Lamberth acknowledged that not everyone supported the death sentence, he believed that the worst crimes required the worst punishments in order to provide the victims with justice.
Speaking on the House floor, he declared, “The atrocities they suffered deserve the severest of punishments.”
In the end, the bill was approved 77-19-1 along party lines, with Clarksville Democrat Ronnie Glynn Present Not Voting. Now, the bill is on Gov. Bill Lee’s desk awaiting his signature. The governor’s office has been contacted by News 2 for comment.
