13 February 2018 :

The Senate subcommittee on Public Safety voted 3-2 to support reinstating a limited death penalty in Iowa. Proponents and opponents alike used references from the Bible and religious doctrine to argue in favor of and against Senate Study Bill 3134, a measure designed to provide a limited deterrent in situations in which someone aged 18 or older kidnaps, rapes and murders a minor or kills a peace officer in the line of duty. Under current Iowa law, criminals convicted of a Class A offense is sentenced to life in prison without parole. Chief Deputy Iowa Attorney General Eric Tabor spoke against bill, providing a letter from Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller which said Iowa already has a de facto death sentence because a life sentence truly means life in prison without the possibility of parole. He noted that Iowa has one of the lowest murder rates in the nation and he said it is doubtful the death penalty can ever be administered fairly and impartially, particularly for African-Americans. The measure now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee. But even if the Iowa Senate passes the death penalty bill this session, it's uncertain whether it can win approval in the House. House Public Safety Committee Chairman Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, recently said there is not enough support to advance expansive capital punishment legislation under House Study Bill 569. Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965. Iowa's last execution was on March 15, 1963.