Gov. Bill Lee has approved legislation allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions, a change the Republican-controlled Statehouse championed amid concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court has banned capital punishment in such cases.
Death penalty for child rape convictions advances in Tennessee House
One Tennessee House Republican wants child rapists to face the death penalty. However, a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling bars states from doing so unless the crime involves a child’s death. Rep. William Lamberth wants it to be state law anyway.
Democratic lawmaker files bill to add rape and incest exceptions to Tennessee’s all-out abortion ban
A lawmaker in Chattanooga has filed a bill that would pave the way to permitting abortions in certain circumstances. The legislation attempts to allow terminations of pregnancy for victims of rape or incest.
Advocates for rape survivors begin lobbying effort to add exceptions to Tennessee’s strict abortion ban
The Sexual Assault Center in Nashville is launching a campaign directed at Republican state lawmakers to allow abortion for rape and incest, even though they’ve shown almost no interest in exceptions to the law.
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