Dem Bill Would End Death Penalty for Espionage, Treason, Assassinations

Eight Democrats have proposed a bill that would take the death penalty off the table for a variety of serious federal crimes, including espionage, treason and assassinating federal politicians. 

The Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act. (HR 3741) would “end the death penalty for assassination or kidnapping that results in the death of the president or vice president, and also ends it for the murder of a member of Congress.”

The list goes on: “using a weapon of mass destruction, or murder done via torture, child abuse, war crimes, aircraft hijackings, sexual abuse, bank robberies or the willful wrecking of a train.”

And there is even more like “using chemical or biological materials to kill could also no longer result in the death penalty, nor could deaths related to treason or espionage. The death or injury of an unborn child could not result in the death penalty either.”

Sponsors of the bill include Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Elijah Cummings (D-MN), Barbara Lee (D-CA)  Hank Johnson (D-GA), John Lewis (D-GA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and José Serrano (D-N.Y.).