Missouri governor defends his pro-life stand after criticism from anti-death penalty activists
Caroline MolloyMissouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is defending his pro-life beliefs this week after he denied clemency to a convicted murderer and is facing criticism from activists who oppose the death penalty.
Kehoe, a Republican, rejected last-minute appeals to halt the execution of Lance Shockley, who was convicted of killing Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in 2005. Shockley was executed by lethal injection Oct. 14 in Bonne Terre, Missouri, marking the first execution since Kehoe took office as governor, Missouri news station First Alert 4 reported.
“The murder of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Carl DeWayne Graham, Jr., who was investigating Lance Shockley’s criminal actions at the time, was an attack not only on a dedicated law enforcement officer, but on the rule of law itself,” Kehoe said in a statement. “Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated. Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform.”
According to Kehoe’s office, Graham had been investigating the murder of Jeffrey Bayless, a passenger killed while riding in a car with Shockley, and Shockley was suspected of driving under the influence. Shockley later went to Graham’s home and shot him and was convicted of first-degree murder with three aggravating factors.
Death penalty opponents said the move contradicts Kehoe’s campaign promise to protect life.
“We had understood through your announcements that you are a pro-life individual serving the best interest of people in our state in that capacity, and quite frankly, the action that you took at this point to say that you would not exercise clemency is exactly the opposite of that,” activist Jeff Stack said, according to First Alert 4.
Kehoe rejected the criticism, saying his pro-life position remains unshaken.
