DeSantis' Crime Crackdown: The Bold Steps That'll Change Everything for Florida

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis wants to project an image of a leader who's tough on crime.

DeSantis relies on this campaign theme ahead of his potential presidential run. Last week, Florida's GOP-controlled Legislature agreed to repeal legislation requiring a unanimous jury conviction to sentence a person to death. This was after the outcry over jurors who opposed the death penalty for convicted Parkland gunman Nikolas Cruz.

Despite a closely contested U.S. Supreme Court decision, state legislators may soon apply the death penalty to those found guilty of raping children. According to a 2008 Supreme Court judgment, such penalties are unconstitutional.

While most people wouldn't want anything else for active pedophiles, it's still important to have an open conversation. Besides, DeSantis might be gunning for cheap political points without making sure the legislation actually works for the country's benefit. He knows his voter base is heavily involved with this question and wouldn't want anything but the most extreme punishment for the perpetrators.

The two death penalty bills are only some of the criminal justice legislation DeSantis advocated for in the wake of this year's legislative session.

The Florida governor also attacked the Parkland jury decision that led to Cruz receiving a life sentence. During a series of speeches to promote his book before an anticipated presidential bid, DeSantis also criticized the blue states and "soft-on-crime" prosecutors working in other parts of the country.

The classic trope

Republicans considering a presidential run see combatting crime as a good issue for them. For instance, former vice president Mike Pence advocated for the swift execution of mass murderers.

Allies of former President Donald Trump have previously criticized the governor for his record on criminal justice. They slammed him for approving a bill in 2019 that raised the threshold for the crime of theft.

The death penalty legislation, however, would probably drag Florida into a contentious national legal dispute about the appropriate level of punishment and could ultimately go before the U.S. High Court.

What do you think about DeSantis's plans to clamp down on crime in Florida?

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