Reynolds Cosponsors Bipartisan Effort to Repeal Death Penalty

COLUMBUS—Today State Senator Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) joined Minority Leader Nickie Antonio in sponsoring a bill that would repeal Ohio’s death penalty.

“I believe that life begins at conception and ends in natural death,” said Reynolds. “The death penalty, as it is applied today, devalues the dignity of human life. Human life should not be a bargaining chip. What we do with human life should not be based on where you live, what race you are or your socioeconomic status. I am pleased to join my fellow legislators on this important legislation and it is my prayer that we can end the death penalty and affirm the dignity of life for all Ohioans.”

Currently, the death penalty is on hold as the lethal combination of drugs remains difficult to secure or unavailable from vendors and companies that manufacture the drugs. 

In 2019, Governor DeWine issued an order stopping executions based on a federal judge’s order to perform a thorough review of Ohio’s death penalty procedures. 

The repeal currently has 12 bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate and will be introduced later this week.