Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law Tuesday that will allow for the death penalty in cases of child rape..The Florida Senate passed the bill recently that would allow the death penalty for people who commit sexual crimes on children under the age of 12..The new law will come into effect October 1..“In the worst of the worst cases, the only appropriate punishment is the ultimate punishment," DeSantis said in a statement..Lawmakers said they hope the bill (HB 1297) will ultimately lead to the U.S. Supreme Court reversing a 2008 decision that barred the death penalty for people who rape children. .The Senate voted 34-5 to pass the bill. Now that bill has been signed..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.."In Florida, we believe it’s only appropriate the worst of the worst crimes deserve the worst of the worst punishment," DeSantis said.."We are authorizing the death penalty for child rapists.".His crackdown on child rapists comes ahead of an expected announcement he's running for president.."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."
