“Florida Governor Signs Law Allowing Death Penalty for Pedophiles Under 12 Years Old”

With our correspondent in Washington, Guillaume Naudin

« We will put pedophiles to death, hopefully » : it is with these words that Ron DeSantis comments on his latest idea. In presenting his measures against crime, the governor of Florida signed a law voted by a large majority by the legislators of his state. It makes it possible to sentence to death the perpetrators of sexual assaults on children under 12 years of age.

A few months ago, Florida had already facilitated the application of the death penalty, by lowering from 12 to 8 the number of jurors necessary to decide it. This new law is due to come into force on October 1. However, it is likely to be challenged in court. It directly contradicts a 2008 Supreme Court decision prohibiting a comparable measure.

Even if it went that far, and even if the conservative Supreme Court were to change its case law as it already has, this is probably not a problem for Ron DeSantis. For him, it’s about sending a message.

Since his indictment in Stormy Daniels case, Donald Trump is widening the gap in the race for the Republican nomination, according to all opinion studies. Ron DeSantis must therefore react and demonstrate his firmness to voters sensitive to crime issues. And he also knows that the question of pedophilia is central for a large part of them.

Read also : Donald Trump on a private visit to Ireland, the 2024 presidential election in mind