On Tuesday, the state of Missouri carried out the execution of Lance Shockley, a man convicted of murdering a state trooper nearly two decades ago. Shockley, 48, was put to death by lethal injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre. His case had traveled through every level of the justice system, including the U.S. Supreme Court, which denied his final appeals earlier that same day.
Shockley was convicted in 2009 for the 2005 killing of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. Prosecutors said he waited for hours near the trooper’s home, then ambushed him with a rifle and shotgun. The motive? According to the state, Shockley knew Graham was investigating him for involuntary manslaughter connected to a fatal accident that killed his best friend.
The execution of a law enforcement officer’s killer carries weight far beyond the prison walls. It sends a message at a time when respect for the rule of law and those who enforce it is under pressure from both within and outside our borders. In this case, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe made it clear: “Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated.”
From a national security standpoint, that kind of clarity matters. America’s internal peace is one of its greatest strengths. When our police and servicemen are attacked, and the state fails to respond with justice, it signals weakness to the world. And in a time of global chaos—wars in Eastern Europe, rising threats from China and Iran, and border instability here at home—weakness invites danger.
The Shockley case also highlights the importance of a legal system that, while imperfect, must be trusted to function. His defense team argued that the evidence was circumstantial and that the murder weapons were never recovered. But after years of review, appeals, and scrutiny, the courts found the conviction stood on solid ground. For our justice system to maintain credibility, it must be willing to carry out its most serious sentences when warranted.
Shockley’s appeals stretched out over 16 years. That’s not unusual in capital cases, but it raises important questions. How long should justice take? And what message does it send when punishment is delayed so long that it becomes disconnected from the crime?
For law enforcement families, it can feel like the system forgets them. Yet when a case like this finally reaches its end, it reaffirms that the lives of those who protect us matter.
There’s another layer to this story, one that touches on international implications. The United States remains one of the few developed nations that still uses the death penalty. Critics abroad point to it as a human rights issue. But in reality, it is a reminder of our national sovereignty. We do not answer to foreign courts or international pressure when it comes to how we secure justice. That independence is central to American liberty.
At the same time, we should not ignore the importance of making sure every death penalty case meets the highest standards of proof. The rest of the world watches how we handle justice. If we are to stand as a moral counterweight to authoritarian regimes like China or Iran, where executions are handed down without fair trials, we must show that even our harshest punishments follow the rule of law.
Shockley’s execution was the first in Missouri this year. Florida, by contrast, has already carried out 14—more than any other state. While each state has its own laws and procedures, the broader trend shows that parts of the country are reaffirming their commitment to law and order. In an age where crime, border instability, and threats to public safety are growing, that commitment is not just about justice—it’s about national security.
In the end, the case of Lance Shockley was about more than one man and one crime. It was about whether a nation still has the will to defend its protectors, uphold its laws, and send a clear signal to its enemies—foreign or domestic—that violence against the state will not be tolerated. Missouri answered that question this week. The rest of the country should take note.