MIAMI — Florida prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz in the fatal shooting of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The office of Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz filed the formal notice Tuesday. The 19-year-old Cruz 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 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.
There has been too much death. I would hope that Cruz receives quadruple life with no possibility of parole.
Assault weapons should be banned.
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Of all the proposals offered by politicians, none include banning assault weapons. It’s shameful.
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It IS shameful. For me, common sense says that banning assault weapons will make a huge difference!
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I say ban Semi-Auto firearms bigger than a .22 cal, including pistols.
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That would certainly help, Jim.
Did you know that Americans own 8 million AR-15 rifles??? —>
https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-02-15/most-popular-rifle-america-was-used-countrys-latest-shooting
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Half of them are owned by about 3% of Gunowners.
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So crazy! I did not know that, Jim.
Have you seen photos of NRA gun conventions? Here is a image page of photos that you can scroll down:
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I have no problem with all guns being banned, with maybe the exception of some hunting rifles and shotguns. The reason for that is because of wild animals and poisonous snakes that can harm humans and pets.
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I have seen so many signs against the gun lobby and against assault weapons. Here are some of the messages:
“Are Our Lives Worth Your Guns?”
“Gun Lobby Profit$ from Massacres”
“No Guns in My School”
“Protect Our Kids Not Your Guns”
“Congress or NRA Making Laws?”
“Ban Automatic Weapons – Thoughts and Prayers Are Not Enough”
“NRA There is Blood on Your Hands”
“Our Lives Are Worth More Than Your NRA Endorsements”
https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/i/MSNBC/Components/Video/201802/shooting_rally.jpg
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Hey Hey NRA, How many Kids did you Kill Today?
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Today in Washington, DC:
“There are 7,000 pairs of shoes outside the Capitol. Here’s why.
The shoes represent the number of children killedhttps://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/13/ by gun violence since Sandy Hook.”
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Not a fan of the Death Penalty but if anyone deserves it it’s him.
I’d prefer he spends the rest of his miserable life thinking about what he did.
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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Mr. Militant Negro,
Thanks for the reblog, dear friend.
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Agree with you about the death penalty. It’s cruel.
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Stephen King’s analogy is excellent!
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I believe that mass murderer should get life without parole. I did have mixed feelings about the death penalty, but he deserves to have a severe punishment. Besides, people of a different complexion than him have been killed without due process for much much less than what he did. I hope there will be justice.
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Had Cruz been black, there would be no trial!
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Exactly! Cruz would’ve been bodied so quickly once they found out he was the culprit if he was darker skinned.
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Mothman,
Sadly, that is true. It would have been the classic, “we didn’t know if he had a gun on him and he went for his waistband” justification.
There’s something that I don’t if it was reported or not. If it was reported, I’ve not been able to find it. Cruz left the school and went to a strip mall area. There are no reports as to what he did with the assault rifle that he used.
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He worked at a strip mall.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article201198829.html
Xena,
I just assumed he left the rifle at the school to better blend in, unnoticed, with the crowd of escaping students.
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Yahtzee,
Since LE used Cruz’s physical description to capture him, and he didn’t have the rifle with him, I would think they would have reported where they found the rifle ad how they connected it to Cruz AT THE SCENE.
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Mz. Xena,
If one were to think for a moment they might realize that the death penalty will not happen. The politicians and the local law, and statements from the NRA about only a person that was/is mentally ill could use this type of weapon to commit a murder spree will work against any possible death penalty. My fear is that despite his crime, that due to the mentally ill claims from those parties he will not go to a prison, but to a mental institute instead. His attorney has primed the pump with his offer to plead guilty if death penalty is off the table, I now suspect at some point prior to the trial his attorney will bring out a mental defect defense. Once again in our system, it remains to be seen if justice will be rendered. Has anyone else even considered the number of persons that are actually co responsible (?) in some degree with this mans (actually child) acts? How do we have justice when these people fail to make amends for their part in the act?
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Mothman,
You make very valid points about Cruz’s mental health. It reminds me of James Holmes’ trial. I don’t know if Florida has a sentencing phrase like Colorado and Arizona. If they do, there’s a good chance that all jurors will not agree to a death penalty.
As far as co-responsibility, that matter has been taken up by the courts in civil cases regarding what responsibility law enforcement has when a crime is being committed or planned, and they fail to take proper action. The only decision that I know of that sided with plaintiffs was when the parents of a Jeremy Dahmer victim sued the police.
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Excerpt from article linked below:
https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2018/03/14/ban-assault-weapons-now-starts-florida-constitutional-amendment-push-313343
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While students walked out to protest in support for gun control, Dylann Roof’s 18 year old sister was arrested. Roof is the man who was convicted for the mass killing in the Emanuel Lutheran Church. His sister, Morgan, posted a hateful comment on Snapchat about Black students being killed, and was in school with a knife, pepper spray and marijuana. She’s been arrested and is being held on a $5k bond.
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