16 September 2010 :

Bill Seeks Death Penalty for Child Rapists. House Bill 2965 that would allow repeat sex offenders to face the death penalty was passed 9-1 in the House Judiciary Committee today. Repeat sex offenders convicted of raping a child 6 years old or younger would be eligible for the death penalty under a bill approved Monday by a House committee, despite a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that a similar law was unconstitutional. HB2965 by Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, would also allow a 1st-time offender to be sentenced to a maximum of life without parole. Currently, a 25 years to life sentence is the maximum for a 1st offense. It would also eliminate the "homeless defense" as an excuse for not registering as a sex offender. It would allow those convicted of failing to register to receive a 20-year prison sentence. Duncan says he realizes some may think the death penalty is too harsh. In fact, the Supreme Court has ruled that a case similar in Louisiana was unconstitutional. The court said the death penalty for child rapists is cruel and unusual punishment. But Duncan disagrees and thinks changing the language of the bill could help the Supreme Court see this is what Oklahoma needs to keep our children safe. The bill is now is headed to the floor of the House of Representatives.