By:  Haywood                                         S.C.R. No. 137
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately convey the profound shock
    1-2  and outrage felt by the citizens of Texas at the tragic loss of
    1-3  life and the physical pain and emotional trauma resulting from
    1-4  injuries sustained in the act of terror in Oklahoma City on
    1-5  April 19, 1995; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, In addition to those who lost their lives or were
    1-7  wounded, others have been victimized, including family members and
    1-8  other loved ones of those killed or injured; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, Children and adults alike who witnessed this act of
   1-10  terror have been psychologically injured and are forced to endure
   1-11  deeply felt fear and insecurity; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to ameliorate the damage
   1-13  done by such a violent assault, the people of the State of Texas
   1-14  are determined to deter those who would commit acts of terror and
   1-15  to punish severely those who choose to commit such acts; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Such an offense may include murder of more than one
   1-17  person during the same criminal transaction, murder of a child
   1-18  under six years of age, or murder in the course of committing
   1-19  arson, obstruction, or retaliation or for remuneration and thus may
   1-20  constitute capital murder under Section 19.03(a), Penal Code; and
   1-21        WHEREAS, A clear danger exists that a criminal guilty of such
   1-22  an atrocious act would commit further violent crimes and would be a
   1-23  continuing threat to society; and
    2-1        WHEREAS, A finding of the probability of a continuing threat
    2-2  to society and the inarguable presence of additional aggravating
    2-3  factors, including the utter disregard for human life inherent in
    2-4  such a case, justify imposition of the death penalty under Article
    2-5  37.071, Code of Criminal Procedure; now, therefore, be it
    2-6        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
    2-7  hereby declare that it is the will of the Texas Legislature that
    2-8  any state prosecutor of a case involving an act of terror for which
    2-9  the defendant may be convicted of capital murder charge that
   2-10  defendant under Section 19(a), Penal Code, and seek the death
   2-11  penalty for a capital felony under Section 12.31, Penal Code.