TN lawmakers advance bill to use death penalty in certain child abuse cases

Tennessee lawmakers are advancing a new bill that would expand the use of the death penalty for certain child abuse cases. House Bill 1454 would allow prosecutors to enforce the death penalty in certain cases involving child rape. Supporters of the bill say the bill is about holding offenders accountable and protecting children with critics fearing legal issues since the U.S. Supreme Court has rules against the use of the death penalty when the victim does not die. The bill now heads to Governor Bill Lee’s desk before it can become law.