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Congresswoman Mace Proposes Death Penalty for Child Rapists

2/27/2026

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Mace Proposes Death Penalty

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced the Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act on February 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
The bill would authorize capital punishment for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, and abusive sexual contact against children under federal law.
Mace tied the proposal to accountability in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
If enacted, the legislation could challenge Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008) and face legal scrutiny.

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Wakim-Chapman Advocates Death Penalty

West Virginia lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 1068 to reinstate the death penalty for certain crimes against children, overturning a ban from 1959.
Senator Laura Wakim-Chapman supports the bill, stating it addresses protecting vulnerable children.
Currently, the maximum penalty for first-degree murder is life imprisonment, while first-degree sexual assault of a minor carries a 25 to 100-year sentence.
The bill will undergo review by the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees.

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Republicans Propose Fetal Homicide

Tennessee Republicans proposed House Bill 570, aligning with the 2022 Human Life Protection Act.
The measure would classify abortion as fetal homicide.
The bill would punish abortion with life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Representative Jody Barrett and Senator Mark Pody co-sponsor the legislation.
Clint Pressley, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, endorses the bill.

History

Historical Context

In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v. Louisiana that the death penalty for child rape was unconstitutional, emphasizing the need for proportional punishment. This decision has influenced states like West Virginia, where lawmakers, including Congresswoman Nancy Mace and Senator Laura Wakim-Chapman, are now advocating for harsher penalties in response to high-profile cases, potentially reshaping child protection laws.

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Mace Proposes Death Penalty

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced the Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act on February 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
The bill would authorize capital punishment for aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, and abusive sexual contact against children under federal law.
Mace tied the proposal to accountability in the Jeffrey Epstein case.
If enacted, the legislation could challenge Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008) and face legal scrutiny.

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