Petition to Missouri Lawmakers
To: The Missouri General Assembly and Governor of Missouri

Children are the most vulnerable members of our society. Yet, in Missouri, those who commit the most horrific crimes — the rape of a child under 12 or the creation and possession of child sexual abuse material (child pornography) — do not face the ultimate punishment.

We, the undersigned, believe Missouri must stand with Florida and other states in passing laws that recognize these crimes as among the most serious imaginable. When an adult destroys a child’s life through rape or sexual exploitation, they commit an act so heinous that it should be eligible for Capital Punishment, with a minimum sentence of 'Life In Prison with No Parole' and be eligible for the death penalty if 8 out of 12 jurors recommend it.

While the U.S. Supreme Court has previously ruled against the death penalty in such cases (Kennedy v. Louisiana, 2008), states have the authority to challenge that decision by enacting laws that reflect the will of the people and the need to protect children. Missouri should lead in that fight.

We call on Missouri lawmakers to:

• Pass legislation making the sexual battery of a child under 12 by an adult a capital offense.
• Expand capital eligibility to include creation, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material involving children under 12.
• Ensure sentencing procedures require at least 8 out of 12 jurors to recommend death before it may be imposed, with life without parole as the default.

State clearly that this law is intended to challenge outdated precedent and bring the issue before the U.S. Supreme Court.

We urge Missouri lawmakers to act now to protect children and impose the strongest possible punishment on those who prey on them.

✍️ Signed,
[Petition Signatures]

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Draft Bill Language – Missouri General Assembly
AN ACT
To amend chapter 565, Revised Statutes of Missouri, relating to capital punishment, by adding thereto one new section relating to sexual offenses against children.

 
Section 1.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person eighteen years of age or older who commits:
(1) Sexual intercourse, sodomy, or sexual penetration, however slight, with a child under the age of twelve; or
(2) Knowingly creates, produces, distributes, or possesses material that depicts a child under the age of twelve engaged in sexual conduct;
shall be guilty of a capital felony, punishable by death or life imprisonment without eligibility for probation, parole, or conditional release.
 
Section 2. Sentencing procedure.
If the state seeks the death penalty under this section, the prosecutor shall provide written notice to the defendant and the court.
Upon conviction of a qualifying offense, a separate sentencing proceeding shall be conducted.
A sentence of death may be imposed only if at least eight (8) jurors out of twelve (12) recommend death.
If fewer than eight (8) jurors recommend death, the court shall impose a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
 
Section 3. Legislative intent.
The General Assembly finds and declares that:

Sexual assault and sexual exploitation of children under twelve years of age constitute among the most heinous crimes imaginable, inflicting permanent harm on victims and society.
The imposition of the death penalty for such crimes reflects the evolving standards of decency and the will of the people of Missouri.
This Act is intended to challenge existing precedent of the United States Supreme Court, specifically Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008), which prohibits the death penalty for child rape and related non-homicide offenses, and to invite reconsideration of that decision.
 
Section 4. Effective date.
This act shall become effective January 1, 2026.

 
End of Document