Legislation has been filed in the Missouri House that would abolish the death penalty.
If the bill becomes law, any pending executions in Missouri would be halted, and all inmates sentenced to death would be re-sentenced to life without probation or parole. It’s sponsored by State Representative Penny Hubbard (D, St. Louis). She says she doesn’t believe that capital punishment is an effective deterrent.
“I’m not saying that when a person commits a crime that they should not be punished," Hubbard said. "I just feel like life without probation or parole would suffice, and I don’t feel like at this day and time we ought to be doing an eye-for-an-eye.”
Hubbard also said that there’s the possibility that some inmates under a death sentence in Missouri may actually be innocent. The bill’s chances of passing or even being debated are slim, with strong Republican majorities controlling both the Missouri House and Senate – and Democratic Governor Jay Nixon also supports the death penalty. Hubbard says she hopes the bill will at least get a hearing.
