https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11982079/DeSantis-backs-death-penalty-child-rapists.html

It doesn't matter what your political affiliation is, people need to wake up! Pushing the death penalty for this?! This would include two minors having sex in grade school! Imagine what he would do if he was president!

Ron DeSantis says death is the only 'appropriate' punishment for predators who rape 'six and seven-year-old kids': Florida Governor pushes bill to make child sex rapes capital offenses

• DeSantis pushing tough-on-crime approach ahead of expected White House bid
• He's backing a bill to allow death penalty for child rapists
• And he supports a bill to remove unanimous jury requirement for death penalty 

By Emily Goodin, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Published: 12:55 EDT, 17 April 2023 | Updated: 15:07 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing a tough-on-crime agenda ahead of an expected presidential bid with his support for two bills in the state legislature, including one that would challenge the U.S. Supreme Court.

DeSantis is backing a bill that would authorize the death penalty for child rapists. Under the legislation, a jury - by a vote of at least 8-4 - can recommend a death sentence for sexual battery on a child under age 12. 

'We are authorizing the death penalty for child rapists,' DeSantis said Monday morning during an interview with an Orlando radio state. '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.'

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

His crackdown comes ahead of an expected announcement he's running for president

He told the Orlando radio station that he thinks the current high court would hear a challenge to the older ruling on the death penalty for child rape. Many of the justices that made that ruling are no longer on the bench,

'I think we're right at the law and I think that its current court would consider a challenge to that,' he said.

He's also pushing a second death penalty measure that would remove the requirement that only a unanimous jury can issue the death penalty. 

Gov. DeSantis supports a death penalty measure that would remove the requirement that only a unanimous jury can issue the death penalty - it's in response to Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz receiving life in prison after a divided jury couldn't agree on Capitol punishment

Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book of Florida, who is a victim of child abuse and represents the district with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, supports DeSantis on the bills.

The bill is in response to the outrage last year after a divided jury meant Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz received life in prison instead of the death penalty. 

In 2020, the state Supreme Court said unanimous jury recommendations were not needed, although the law remains on the books.

Now DeSantis is moving to get it removed. Under the legislation, at least 8 members of a 12-person jury would have to recommend a death sentence. 

The bill was proposed after a 9-3 by the jury in the Parkland case spared the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter from capital punishment.

And some Democrats in his state back his proposals, including Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book, a victim of child sexual abuse who founded the advocacy organization, Lauren's Kids.

She said allowing capital punishment to be applied to sex crimes against children is warranted.

Book also represents the district includes Parkland. She has called the Cruz decision a 'gross injustice.' 

Gov. DeSantis is backing a series of bills in the Florida State Capitol that are tough on crime

As DeSantis go about his book tour across the country - and in states that are important in the 2024 presidential election - he is slamming prosecutors and those he sees as 'soft' on crime, such as cities controlled by Democratic mayors.

'Crime has gone up,' he said in Michgian earlier this month. 'People have fled these jurisdictions because of their recklessness.'

And, he noted recently in Georgia, his state has rejected 'soft on crime policies, like eliminating cash bail, or jailbreak legislation which lets violent criminals out of prison before they've completed their prison sentences. And we've also raised the alarm about the growing trend of left wing prosecutors getting elected.'

After carrying out two executions in his first term, DeSantis has now signed three death warrants so far this year. 

'We are tough on crime, and we support the men and women of law enforcement,' he said during his state of the state address in March.