On the heels of signing a bill requiring incest and rape victims to show proof for an abortion after six weeks of gestation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is now looking to sign a bill pushing for the death penalty for child rapists.
RELATED: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Bill Requiring Incest & Rape Victims To Show Proof For Abortion
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis To Sign Bill Pushing Death Penalty For Child Rapists
It is reported that ahead of a likely presidential bid, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — a Republican who has been touting several “tough-on-crime” policies — is now heavily pushing towards making it easier to execute convicted criminals, especially including child rapists.
The bill would do two things: 1) permit the death penalty for those who commit sexual battery against children under 12; and 2) allow juries to recommend capital punishment by a vote of at least 8-4, versus the current requirement of an unanimous vote.
Speaking with ‘Good Morning Orlando‘ on Monday (April 17) DeSantis said, “We are authorizing the death penalty for child rapists. My view is, you have some of these people that will be serial rapists of six, seven-year-old kids. I think the death penalty is the only appropriate punishment when you have situations like that.”
DeSantis noted that this new bill would be “cutting against recent Supreme Court precedent,” but believes the current court would likely consider this challenge.
In 2008, the court ruled in a 5-4 decision that the Eighth Amendment (forbidding cruel and unusual punishment, i.e.: the death penalty) prevented capital punishment for child rapists or anyone who committed a crime in which the victim did not die.
Gov. DeSantis went on to explain that in the Parkland shooting case, capital punishment should have been an option. He explained that he’s been trying to remove the unanimous jury recommendation barrier to the death penalty ever since the February 14, 2019 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
When the Parkland school shooter, Nikolas Cruz, was found guilty of murdering 17 people at the school and injuring 17 others, one juror in the sentencing phase refused to vote in favor of giving Cruz the death penalty — which was something DeSantis believed was “really the only appropriate punishment.”
Cruz was eventually sentenced to life in prison.
RELATED: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Slams NCAA & Says Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas Was Not ‘Rightful Winner’
At the time, DeSantis said, “What happened with the Parkland case, it was an 11-1 vote to give the death penalty for the perpetrator of the Parkland massacre. So, you had one juror that held out and the problem is if you do it like that, if one juror just objects to the death penalty they can nullify a death sentence.”
DeSantis added, “When you say it’s not unanimous, I think it’s a protection against the nullification. Look, if you don’t support capital punishment, I respect that, but the way to deal with that is to try to get the laws changed in the state through the democratic process – not to be on a jury and to nullify capital punishment.”
RELATED: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Blames Hispanic Workforce For COVID-19 Spike
#Socialites, be sure to check out the post below, then leave us your thoughts in a comment after!
View this post on Instagram