Illinois House lawmakers pushing for death penalty

Posted on May 29, 2018
Illinois Capitol
Illinois lawmakers are drafting a proposal to reinstate the death penalty in certain instances. (WJBC file photo)

RFD Radio/WFMB

SPRINGFIELD – Democrat and Republican lawmakers in the House are working to reinstate the death penalty in Illinois.

The downstate group has a bill in committee that follows through on Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal for capital punishment for mass murderers and those who kill police officers and firefighters. Rauner kickstarted the idea of bringing the penalty back to Illinois as part of an amendatory veto to a gun control bill.

Then-Governor George Ryan put a moratorium on capital punishment in the state in 2000. The practice was outlawed by the legislature in 2011.

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