DeSantis challenges Supreme Court by signing new death penalty law
Eden Villalovas
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Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed a bill Monday expanding the Florida death penalty to those convicted of rape against children younger than 12.
“In Florida, we stand for the protection of children,” DeSantis said. “And unfortunately in our society, you have very heinous sex crimes that are committed against children under the age of 12 years old.”
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The Florida Republican signed three “anti-crime” bills into law on Monday in Titusville, Florida.
During a “Law & Order” press conference, House Bill 1297 was signed. It defies a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court precedent.
In Kennedy v. Louisiana, U.S. Supreme Court justices issued a 5-4 ruling prohibiting states from granting the death penalty for the rape of a child, citing that the Eighth Amendment’s cruel and unusual punishment clause prohibits the death penalty in cases where the victim did not die.
DeSantis said he believes the Supreme Court decision was wrong, affirming Florida’s stance to move to bypass the ruling by saying, “The worst of the worst crimes deserves the worst of the worst punishment.”
DeSantis said that the perpetrators of these sex crimes against children are typically serial offenders, and through this bill, they can prevent these attacks through punishment.
The potential 2024 GOP candidate signed two other bills related to the fentanyl crisis and drug-related crimes that target children.
The governor touted Florida’s crime rates being at a 50-year low, saying that overall crime is down almost 10% year after year.
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DeSantis addressed rumors claiming he will remove state Attorney Monique Worrell from her position, questioning why Worrell sparked conversation that he would demote her: “Is she doing something that deserves removal?”
DeSantis also addressed the countersuit against Disney being brought by a board he controls, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. “No corporation is above the law and the people of this state,” he said.