USA - Utah. The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice committee approved HB176

The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice committee voted 6-5 to approve HB176, that is capital punishment for sex trafficking deaths. The plan that would expand capital punishment in Utah so that criminals convicted of aggravated human trafficking or child sex exploitation that leads to death could be executed has made it through its 1st test on, despite concern from both lawmakers and members of the public that the plan would be costly and is unnecessary. Proposal sponsor Republican Rep. Paul Ray said human trafficking is a big problem in Utah, so he wants to hold the leaders of human trafficking rings accountable. The proposal is only the latest effort by Ray to institute hardline death-penalty plans. He ushered in a law in 2015 allowing Utah to use firing squads in executions if the state can't obtain lethal injection drugs. The bill next moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration.