A new Florida law allows judges to call for the death penalty against those who raped a child under the age of 12.
As the bill was signed into law in May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) said, “Unfortunately, in our society, we have very heinous sex crimes that are committed against children under the age of 12 years old.”
“These are really the worst of the worst. The perpetrators of these crimes are often serial offenders.”
The law, H.B. 1297 allows a jury of at least 8-4 to call for the death penalty against the convicted rapist.
“If at least eight jurors determine that the defendant should be sentenced to death, the jury’s recommendation to the court shall be a sentence of death,” the law reads. “If fewer than eight jurors determine that the defendant should be sentenced to death, the jury’s recommendation to the court shall be a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.”
As the bill took effect, DeSantis tweeted, “The minimum sentence is life in prison without parole. In Florida, anyone who harms children in such a horrific way will never walk free.”
Florida’s law allowing the death penalty for child rapists is now in effect.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 3, 2023
The minimum sentence is life in prison without parole. In Florida, anyone who harms children in such a horrific way will never walk free.
Reporting from Townhall:
State Sen. Rosalind Osgood, a Democrat, told CBS Miami that the bill presented her with a “quandary.” "I love kids, and I'll do anything to protect them," Osgood said. "But I struggle from a faith perspective. If I believe in my faith that God can redeem and save anybody, then how do I support someone getting the death penalty? And I'm just talking about me. That's my struggle. That's my challenge."
