Florida Shooter Nikolas Cruz Faces Death Penalty
As a member of the Whiskey Congress Podcast, I am regularly given the opportunity to express my opinion on difficult subjects. Our show is dedicated to honest, open and sometimes difficult talk about subjects that sometimes make people uncomfortable. The subject of the death penalty has come up on a few occasions and I have (and remain) consistently against the state taking the life of a convicted (or confessed murderer). I have acknowledged that there are cases where my desire to speak out in defense of the condemned is weak. It is completely fair to criticize me for hypocrisy. Today, I learned (to no surprise) that the State of Florida will seek the death penalty for Nikolas Cruz. There is little doubt that Cruz is responsible for the murder of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Florida. I do not believe that there will be any healing to the victims of this horrific act if Mr. Cruz is systematically and clinically removed from this world. I also don’t have the courage to tell the families of the victims that they are wrong for wanting Mr. Cruz to pay the ultimate price for his actions. I can stand on the principle that ending Nikolas Cruz’s life does not reverse the evil done to so many on that day. I am also comfortable saying that Mr. Cruz will spend the rest of his days in a place where he will never pose a threat to the public again. I invite you to email me at jim@whiskeycongress.com or to tweet Hey Jim to @whiskeycongress. The tough cases are the times where principles are truly validated.
MIAMI (AP) — The former student charged with killing 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last month will face the death penalty, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Nikolas Cruz, 19, is scheduled for formal arraignment Wednesday on a 34-count indictment, including 17 first-degree murder charges. Cruz’s attorneys have said he would plead guilty if the death penalty was not pursued in the Valentine’s Day massacre.
The office of Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz filed the formal notice of its intentions Tuesday. The action by prosecutors Tuesday does not necessarily mean a plea deal will not be reached.
The only other penalty option for Cruz is life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein, whose office is representing Cruz, has said there were so many warning signs that Cruz was mentally unstable and potentially violent, and that the death penalty might be going too far. Finkelstein said Cruz would likely plead guilty if prosecutors opt not to seek the death penalty.
“Because that’s what this case is about. Not, did he do it? Not, should he go free? Should he live or should he die,” Finkelstein told The Associated Press last month.
Finklestein’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
