The young man man who walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School two weeks ago and murdered 17 students is willing plead guilty his crimes so long as the death penalty is taken off the table by prosecutors. A decision about whether prosecutors will pursue a death sentence has not been made.
But according to a new Rasmussen Poll, the majority of Americans believe his crimes fit the punishment and that he should be handed the death penalty.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 58% of American Adults think, if convicted, the suspect in the Florida shooting incident should receive the death penalty. Twenty-four percent (24%) disagree, while 18% are not sure.
These findings are comparable to how Americans felt about the man convicted of committing the mass shooting at a movie theater in Colorado.
Broward State Attorney Mike Satz said in the immediate aftermath of the murders that the death penalty was designed specifically for cases like this.
“This certainly is the type of case the death penalty was designed for. This was a highly calculated and premeditated murder of 17 people and the attempted murder of everyone in that school. Our office will announce our formal position at the appropriate time.”
A final decision on what kind of sentencing prosecutors will recommend to the judge will made in the coming weeks.
In an effort to blunt the punishment, public defenders for the assailant argue the young man was disturbed, alone and a "broken person" when he committed his crimes .They also said was a "bullied and misunderstood" child.