Today, Rep. Nancy Mace introduced the Restoring the Death Penalty in DC Act, legislation to bring capital punishment back to the nation's capital.
The bill would make the death penalty available for first-degree murder, first-degree murder involving the obstruction or displacement of railroads, murder of a law enforcement officer or public safety employee, solicitation of murder, first-degree child sexual abuse, acts of terrorism, use, dissemination, or detonation of a weapon of mass destruction, and distribution of controlled substances to minors resulting in the death of a minor, when the required factors are met and a death sentence is determined to be justified.
"Our nation's capital will not be a safe haven for the most violent criminals in America," said Rep. Mace. "Criminals need to know there are consequences for their actions. Some crimes are so evil they deserve the ultimate punishment. It's time to put the death penalty back on the table and stop giving the worst criminals a second chance to hurt innocent Americans."
The legislation establishes procedures for determining when a death sentence is justified and lays out aggravating and mitigating factors for consideration. The bill also requires a separate sentencing hearing to weigh these factors and whether a sentence of death is justified when the government seeks the death penalty.
Under the bill, a death sentence would be carried out by electrocution, with the condemned given the option to instead elect lethal injection, firing squad, lethal gas, or nitrogen hypoxia.
"We are sending a clear message: the era of coddling violent criminals is over," Mace added. "If you murder a law enforcement officer or commit the most horrific crimes against a child, you should face the ultimate consequence. No excuses. No second chances."