Senator Paul Wieland (R-Imperial) plans to file again in the 2016 legislative session a bill that would abolish the death penalty in Missouri. He’s offered such a bill before.
Sen. Paul Wieland (R-Imperial). Photo courtesy of the Missouri Senate
“I’m a pro-life Catholic and I believe that if you’re going to be pro-life, you should be pro-life on both ends of the spectrum,” said Wieland, suggesting that such a position means opposing not just abortion but also the death penalty. “I don’t think it’s a fiscally smart thing that we do as far as dealing with the death penalty. I think we spend a lot more money with the appeals and going through the process of putting people to death than if we just give them life in prison.”
Wieland used to support the death penalty but changed his mind because he doesn’t believe it deters crime.
“There’s too many people that are stuck in the law and order mentality. They think that if you do away with the death penalty you’re being soft on crime,” said Wieland.
He also said the state is secretive about the way it obtains the drug used for executions. Wieland said conservative state lawmakers should be throwing fits about the way the state obtains the drug used for executions.
“They’re so fiscally responsible about everything else, but they turn a blind eye to the idea of some correction officer getting a paper bag, putting cash in it and driving across state line and picking up an execution drug,” said Wieland.
Missouri is one of 31 states that use the death penalty.