1-1  By:  Haywood                                         S.C.R. No. 137
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed May 2, 1995; May 3, 1995, read first
    1-3  time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; May 10, 1995,
    1-4  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0;
    1-5  May 10, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-7        WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately convey the profound shock
    1-8  and outrage felt by the citizens of Texas at the tragic loss of
    1-9  life and the physical pain and emotional trauma resulting from
   1-10  injuries sustained in the act of terror in Oklahoma City on
   1-11  April 19, 1995; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, In addition to those who lost their lives or were
   1-13  wounded, others have been victimized, including family members and
   1-14  other loved ones of those killed or injured; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Children and adults alike who witnessed this act of
   1-16  terror have been psychologically injured and are forced to endure
   1-17  deeply felt fear and insecurity; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, Although it is impossible to ameliorate the damage
   1-19  done by such a violent assault, the people of the State of Texas
   1-20  are determined to deter those who would commit acts of terror and
   1-21  to punish severely those who choose to commit such acts; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Such an offense may include murder of more than one
   1-23  person during the same criminal transaction, murder of a child
   1-24  under six years of age, or murder in the course of committing
   1-25  arson, obstruction, or retaliation or for remuneration and thus may
   1-26  constitute capital murder under Section 19.03(a), Penal Code; and
   1-27        WHEREAS, A clear danger exists that a criminal guilty of such
   1-28  an atrocious act would commit further violent crimes and would be a
   1-29  continuing threat to society; and
   1-30        WHEREAS, A finding of the probability of a continuing threat
   1-31  to society and the inarguable presence of additional aggravating
   1-32  factors, including the utter disregard for human life inherent in
   1-33  such a case, justify imposition of the death penalty under Article
   1-34  37.071, Code of Criminal Procedure; now, therefore, be it
   1-35        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-36  hereby declare that it is the will of the Texas Legislature that
   1-37  any state prosecutor of a case involving an act of terror for which
   1-38  the defendant may be convicted of capital murder charge that
   1-39  defendant under Section 19(a), Penal Code, and seek the death
   1-40  penalty for a capital felony under Section 12.31, Penal Code.
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