Some lawmakers say efforts to repeal the Kansas death penalty may be stymied by the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding three Kansas death sentences.
A bill repealing the death penalty in Kansas was introduced Friday in the House. The Lawrence Journal-World reports the measure would prohibit death sentences for any crimes committed after July 1.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a Kansas Supreme Court ruling and upheld the death sentences of three convicted Kansas murderers, including Jonathan and Reginald Carr, who killed five people in 2000. A third death sentence was also upheld.
Co-sponsors of the repeal say it may be hard for some to vote for repeal without appearing like they're letting the Carr brothers off the hook. The measure, however, wouldn't apply to the Carrs.
