Lynn Greer Seeks One More Capital Crime Enhancement

Here's something Alabama is number one in: Capital punishment is a legal penalty in the U.S. state of Alabama. Alabama has the highest per capita capital sentencing rate in the country. In some years, its courts impose more death sentences than Texas, a state that has a population five times as large.

Alabama also currently has a great many capital enhancements. In other words, kill someone while committing this crime or under these circumstances and it's automatically a capital case:

Murder by the defendant during a kidnapping in the first degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

Murder by the defendant during a robbery in the first degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

Murder by the defendant during a rape in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant; or murder by the defendant during sodomy in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

Murder by the defendant during a burglary in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

Murder of any police officer, sheriff, deputy, state trooper, federal law enforcement officer, or any other state or federal peace officer of any kind, or prison or jail guard, while such officer or guard is on duty, regardless of whether the defendant knew or should have known the victim was an officer or guard on duty, or because of some official or job-related act or performance of such officer or guard.

Murder committed while the defendant is under sentence of life imprisonment.

Murder done for a pecuniary or other valuable consideration or pursuant to a contract or for hire.

Murder committed during sexual abuse in the first or second degree or an attempt thereof committed by the defendant.

Murder committed during arson in the first or second degree committed by the defendant; or murder by the defendant by means of explosives or explosion.

Murder wherein two or more persons are murdered by the defendant by one act or pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct.

Murder committed when the victim is a state or federal public official or former public official and the murder stems from or is caused by or is related to his official position, act, or capacity.

Murder committed during the act of unlawfully assuming control of any aircraft by use of threats or force with intent to obtain any valuable consideration for the release of said aircraft or any passenger or crewmen thereon or to direct the route or movement of said aircraft, or otherwise exert control over said aircraft.

Murder committed by an offender convicted of any other murder in the 20 years preceding the crime which constitutes the capital crime under Alabama law at the time.

Murder is related to the capacity or role of the victim as a witness.

Murder of a victim less than 14 years of age.

Murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon fired or otherwise used from outside a dwelling while the victim is in a dwelling.

Murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon while the victim is in a vehicle.

Murder committed by or through the use of a deadly weapon fired or otherwise used within or from a vehicle.

Murder by the defendant where a court had issued a protective order for the victim against the defendant.

Murder by the defendant in the presence of a child under the age of 14 years at the time of the offense, if the victim was the parent or legal guardian of the child.  


This week Lynn Greer of Rogersville stated he would like to include death for anyone (usually a physician) who performs an abortion resulting in a live birth who doesn't render aid to the child. How often does this occur? This has been brought up over the past few years, and only one case has ever been mentioned. Those who say it happened refuse to name the date or location or even how the situation was handled.

Greer's suggestion didn't become law. A law did pass making the above a Class A Felony. One case in 50 years; aren't you glad your legislators are tending to such pressing issues in this state? If we're really lucky, perhaps someone will again present a law to make dog fighting legal as was done last year.