Starting this Sunday, Florida is poised to implement a divisive new law, one that could see individuals convicted of raping children under the age of 12 facing the death penalty. However, this measure isn’t without controversy. With both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Florida Supreme Court having previously ruled against death sentences for rapists, many are wondering if this new legislation is a help or a hinderance in the pursuit of justice.
During a May 1 bill-signing event in Brevard County, Governor Ron DeSantis shed light on his perspective. “Unfortunately, in our society, we have very heinous sex crimes that are committed against children under the age of 12 years old,” DeSantis conveyed. “These are really the worst of the worst. The perpetrators of these crimes are often serial offenders,” as reported by CBS News.
The mechanics of the law vest judges with the authority to either impose the death penalty or hand out a life sentence. A significant element is the jury’s role: if eight or more jurors recommend the death penalty, it becomes an option. However, if fewer than eight lean that way, a life sentence becomes mandatory.
The law’s introduction coincides with the recent passing of Pontiac Michigan’s Robert Wayne Lee, better known as Boopac Shakur. Lee was not a conventional figure in the realm of child protection. Residents styled him as a vigilante, luring potential pedophiles by masquerading as a 15-year-old girl online. His efforts, though outside the law, highlighted the dangerous landscape children navigate in the digital age.
With Lee’s unconventional methods and the stringent new law in Florida, the broader question remains: With such measures being taken in Florida, the question now arises: should Michigan consider adopting a similar law?
About Post Author
