Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Expands Death Penalty for Crimes Against Children

(TotalConservative.com) – Against the U.S. Supreme Court’s current precedent, Florida will now allow the death penalty for convictions of child rape if the child is under the age of 12, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law on Monday.

During a press conference held in Titusville, the prospective GOP presidential candidate signed three separate bills on Monday. One of the bills makes capital punishment possible for anyone convicted of child rape, as well as minimum life sentences without parole. The other two measures will allow new penalties on crimes related to fentanyl and other drug-related convictions which target children.

According to DeSantis and his team, the purpose of these bills is to protect Florida citizens from failed bail reform policies in more liberal jurisdictions backed by Democrats. The measure will become effective on Oct. 1 of this year.

The Florida governor said they are making it clear “that in Florida we stand for the protection of children,” referencing the “heinous” crimes often committed against kids younger than 12 and noting that those who commit such crimes are often “serial offenders.” Because the chances are higher that such individuals will commit these crimes again, DeSantis argues that the death penalty is the best solution in dealing with these people as a society. The most heinous of crimes deserve the “ultimate punishment,” the governor stated.

DeSantis also said that he thinks the 2008 decision by the Supreme Court to include protecting child rapists from the death penalty under the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which forbids “cruel and unusual punishment,” was wrong. He stated that his new bill would set up a procedure to challenge the precedent set by the Supreme Court.

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