SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Eight years after Illinois abolished the death penalty, Republican Governor Bruce Rauner proposed reinstating the punishment for mass killers and people who gun down police officers.

 

Rauner made the proposal Monday and tied the death penalty plan to gun restrictions favored by Democrats who control the Legislature.

 

He would make is part of  legislation that lengthens the waiting period for taking possession of rifles or shotguns from 24 hours to 72 hours, and adding other limits on firearms possession.

 

Rauner said that “These individuals who commit mass murder, individuals who choose to murder a law enforcement officer, they deserve to have their life taken.”

 

The last execution to be carried out in Illinois was in 1999, before Republican Gov. George Ryan issued a moratorium saying that they state’s system had too many mistakes and problems to be tenable.