By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – House passes death penalty bill
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Oklahoma lawmakers have voted overwhelmingly to force repeat child molesters to face possible penalties of life in prison or death.
The House voted 91-2 Monday for the bill by Rep. Rex Duncan of Sand Springs and sent it to the Senate for action.
Under current law, a child molester can face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for a first offense. Duncan's legislation will increase the penalty to include a maximum sentence of life without parole.
It would also allow repeat offenders to face life without parole or the death penalty.
Duncan says the death penalty is reserved for the worst of the worst criminals. He says he believes people with a history of violently raping children fall into that category.