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Florida ought not tolerate executing minors
Last year, Florida legislators passed and Gov. Jeb Bush signed
into law a
bill prohibiting the execution of people who are mentally
retarded. It was
a humanitarian gesture suggesting that those whose intellectual
capacities
were severely diminished should not face the ultimate penalty
for crimes
they committed but whose implications they could not have fully
understood.
Now lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit the
execution of
anyone under 18. A similar measure was debated last year.
Supporters say
the bill is intended to clarify a proposed referendum asking
voters to
include capital punishment in the state constitution. "It was
never our
intent to execute minors in Florida and this puts that in
statute," said
state Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa.
The proposal is especially appropriate since Florida's death
penalty
statute already faces possible revamping because of judicial
scrutiny. The
U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing Arizona's capital punishment
law, which
grants judges the power to impose death sentences. Florida law
grants
judges similar authority. As a result of the Arizona case, 2
pending
Florida executions have been delayed, one by the Supreme Court
itself, the
other by Mr. Bush.
This is all the more reason for a statewide moratorium on
executions until
a thorough, independent review of the system is undertaken.
However, an
explicit ban on the execution of minors is relevant regardless
and should
be imposed.
(source: Editorial, Tallahassee Democrat) Feb. 7, 2002
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