New Mexico State Rep. Stefani Lord, a Republican, made a bold move by proposing Bill HB 109, calling for an automatic death penalty for those convicted of certain child sex crimes.
The proposed legislation was inspired by Lord, who has been a proponent of enforcing stricter rules to safeguard minors from sexual predators.
Representative Lord cited the recent unveiling of documents linked to the legal proceedings against Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate of Jeffrey Epstein, as the driving force behind her decision to take action.
The released documents included the names of well-known figures, prompting Representative Lord to take action against what she views as a lenient approach within the current legal framework.
The proposed bill would enforce an automatic death sentence for individuals convicted of a first-degree felony for aggravated criminal sexual penetration of a child and a first-degree felony for criminal penetration of a child.
Advocating for Automatic Death Penalty
Additionally, it seeks to expand the definition of criminal sexual penetration of a child in the first degree to include all children under the age of 18, modifying the current age limit of 13.
Lord emphasized the irrevocability of the proposed penalty, stating, “There is no life. There’s no option for life in prison. You rape a child that is under 18, then you get the death penalty.”
The lawmaker highlighted the significance of the changes for New Mexicans, as some of the most egregious allegations against Epstein allegedly occurred on his ranch, the Zorro Ranch, situated in a rural area south of Santa Fe and east of Albuquerque.
Lord acknowledged the potential challenges in garnering support for the bill within the Democrat-controlled state legislature.
While expressing hope that her Republican colleagues would rally behind the proposal, she doubted any Democrats would support it. Lord emphasized the urgency of drawing a clear line against sex trafficking and called for a unified stance to curb leniency towards those who commit heinous acts against children.
As the debate unfolds in New Mexico, Rep. Stefani Lord stands firm in her pursuit to bring about legislative changes that she believes will send a resounding message against child exploitation and abuse.
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