Key takeaways:
- The Florida Senate has passed a bill that would repeal a law requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty.
- The bill would allow the death penalty with a jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of execution.
- The bill also includes a measure to scrap existing requirements for concealed weapons permits.
The Florida Senate has passed a bill that would repeal a law requiring a unanimous jury recommendation for the death penalty in response to the life sentence handed to the man who massacred 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
The bill, which passed on a 29-10 vote, would allow the death penalty with a jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of execution. It was proposed after a divided 9-3 jury spared the shooter, Nikolas Cruz, from capital punishment in November of 2018.
The bill also includes a measure to scrap existing requirements for concealed weapons permits, including an extra layer of background checks, licensing, and firearms training. People who are barred from buying or carrying guns under other Florida laws would still not be able to under the new law.
The bill has been met with mixed reactions from the public. Some argue that the bill is a necessary step to ensure justice for the victims of the Parkland shooting, while others are concerned that it could lead to an increase in gun violence.
The bill will now move to the House for further consideration. If it passes, it will become law. It is unclear at this time how the new law will affect the state of Florida.
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