Jay Block, a state senator for New Mexico's District 12, has advocated for the death penalty for individuals who kill law enforcement officers, harm children, or traffic dangerous drugs. He expressed this stance in a post on X.
"Kill a cop, you deserve the death penalty," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "Same goes for kids. Same goes for drug dealers. Time to take our streets back and have tough criminal laws to protect the public, not coddle criminals."
In April 2025, South Carolina conducted its second firing squad execution in five weeks, reigniting discussions over the use of this rarely employed method. Mikal Mahdi, convicted of killing an off-duty police officer in 2004, opted for the firing squad instead of lethal injection or the electric chair. This marked South Carolina's first execution in over a decade after a 13-year hiatus and followed the enactment of a law that protects information about execution drugs and procedures. According to reports from the Associated Press and The Guardian, Mahdi's execution was the twelfth in the United States this year.
As of 2024, Texas leads the nation with 591 executions since 1976. Oklahoma has the highest execution rate per capita at 3.101 executions per 100,000 residents. Missouri ranks third with 101 total executions, translating to a rate of 1.617 per 100,000 people. South Carolina has conducted 45 executions—equivalent to 0.821 per 100,000 residents—since reintroducing the firing squad. Execution methods and frequency vary by state due to local laws and political dynamics. Despite some states continuing executions, data from the Death Penalty Information Center indicates a national decline in their overall use.
Over the past decade, national data suggests that states without the death penalty have consistently experienced lower homicide rates compared to those retaining capital punishment. Analysis from the Death Penalty Information Center shows that homicide rates in death penalty states have been between 48% and 101% higher than in non-death penalty states during this period. These findings raise questions about capital punishment's effectiveness as a crime deterrent and suggest more favorable long-term public safety outcomes in states without it.
Block represents New Mexico Senate District 12, covering parts of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties. A retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel with a two-decade military career, he previously served as Sandoval County Commissioner before beginning his Senate term in 2025 after winning the general election in 2024. In office, Block supports law enforcement, energy development, and conservative fiscal policy.
