DeSantis Wants Death Penalty for Child Rape

Governor Ron DeSantis has once again proposed radical changes to his states legislature.

This time he is coming down on child rapists and focusing on capital punishment.

Specifically child sex crimes being punishable by death and changing the number of jurors needed to vote in favor before imposing the death penalty.

AGREE or DISAGREE? Do you believe child rapists should face the death penalty? https://t.co/kBNIWUQiUC

— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) January 27, 2023

DeSantis also discussed having child rapists be required to serve life sentences and expanding a list of sex offenses that would make inmates ineligible for gain time, which can lead to early release.

On Thursday at an appearance for the Miami Police Benevolent Assocation DeSantis said:

“They (sexual predators) will do whatever they can to satiate themselves at the expense of very, very vulnerable people,I believe the only appropriate punishment that would be commensurate to that would be capital.”

DeSantis said he doesn’t think the current U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the ruling that barred the death penalty in rape cases.

“We understand that it will be challenged, but I think it’s right for us to challenge … a decision that wasn’t well thought out, was very narrowly decided,” 

In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, held that the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment prevented the death penalty for child rapists.

This is fantastic! "DeSantis proposes making child rapists eligible for execution, allowing death penalty without unanimous jury" jury https://t.co/8WG6PRzkoM

— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) January 27, 2023

Six states had authorized the death penalty for child rape but no one has been executed for that or any non homicidal crime since 1964.

As other states such as Illinois are trying to end cash bail and let serious criminals off with just a ticket, DeSantis also discussed strengthening bail laws as well as who is eligible for release until their court date.

Families are fleeing Illinois because of high taxes and crime. This trend will only get worse if the courts approve the Pritzker SAFE-T Act, which will end cash bail and flood our streets with even more dangerous criminals. https://t.co/Ft3RECplCm

— Rep. Mary Miller (@RepMaryMiller) January 23, 2023

Other changes that the Govenror was promoting included harsher punishment for the trafficking and distribution of fentynal if it resembled candy and requiring the police to always notify the National Missing and Unidentified Persons system.

He also proposed that a ruling based on the majority of jurors should be enough to determine a death penalty sentencing.

Speaking to Florida sheriffs, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) questions the jury process on the death penalty, including for the Parkland shooter, and suggests the law should be changed so only “maybe 8 out of 12” jurors have to agree, instead of requiring a unanimous decision. pic.twitter.com/VL47uI5LJ7

— The Recount (@therecount) January 24, 2023

Florida has only executed 99 prisoners on death row since 1976.

44 by electrocution and 55 have been executed by lethal injection.

Those executed have included numerous serial killers including Ted Bundy and Aileen Wuornos. 

Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz was spared execution after the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous descion last year, which is what promoted DeSantis to come down on his states sentencing.

DeSantis said:

“One juror should not be able to veto that, I don’t think justice was served in that case. If you’re going to have capital [punishment], you have to administer it to the worst of the worst crimes.”