Issue Position: Crime

Issue Position

Laws are on the books to be enforced, not simply to make us feel good. We should aggressively enforce those which are on the books and prosecute criminals to the full extent of the laws. It is essential that we give our police and our courts the resources and the authority they need to effectively protect our communities. We can do this without taking away liberties from those who obey the laws.

I received an A+ rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) as a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Yet I feel little sympathy for criminals who abuse this right to commit violent crimes. For this reason, I support Governor Bush's 10-20-Life initiative. This legislation created a minimum sentence of 10 years for those who commit a violent crime with a gun, 20 years if the criminal fires the gun while committing the crime, and 25 years to life if someone is harmed by a gunshot during the violent crime. I also support the death penalty.

In Florida, we have also made strides to make sure that our violent criminals stay behind bars and serve 85 percent of their sentences. In addition, Florida has instituted a three-strikes rule that ensures that repeat felons stay off our streets. We have also worked hard to protect our children as well. In 2004, I proposed a pilot program to test the electronic monitoring of criminals released on probation, and, in 2005, the Legislature incorporated electronic monitoring into the Jessica Lunsford Act. The Lunsford Act requires electronic monitoring, during post-release supervision, of those convicted of a sexual offense against a child between the ages of 12 and 15, and lifetime electronic tracking if the victim was under 12 and the offender is ever released.

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