Change the Felony Murder Rule in Florida

To:  Florida Legislators

Our goal is to present to the Florida Legislate the changes needed to change the Felony Murder Rule as it is used in Florida. As it stands, Felony Murder is treated as homicide and is punishable only by life without parole or death.

We propose that Felony Murder sentencing follow the guidelines for Florida Statute 782.07, manslaughter, which constitutes a felony of the second degree and is punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding 15 years or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.:

(3) When a person is killed in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate, any: Trafficking offense prohibited by s. 893.135(1), Arson, Sexual battery, Robbery, Burglary, Kidnapping, Escape, Aggravated child abuse, Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult, Aircraft piracy, Unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb, Carjacking, Home-invasion robbery, Aggravated stalking, Murder of another human being, Resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, or Felony that is an act of terrorism or is in furtherance of an act of terrorism, by a person other than the person engaged in the perpetration of or in the attempt to perpetrate such felony, the person perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate such felony is guilty of murder in the second degree, which constitutes a felony of the first degree, punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding life or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) When a person is killed in the perpetration of, or in the attempt to perpetrate any: Trafficking offense prohibited by s.893.135 (1), Arson, Sexual Battery, Robbery, Burglary, Kidnapping, Escape, Aggravated child abuse, Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult, , Aircraft piracy, Unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb, Carjacking, Home-invasion robbery, Aggravated stalking, Murder of another human being, Resisting an officer with violence to his or her person, or Felony that is an act of terrorism or is in furtherance of an act of terrorism, by a person other than the person engaged in the perpetration of or in the attempt to perpetrate such felony, the person perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate such felony is guilty of manslaughter, which constitutes a felony of the second degree and is punishable by imprisonment for a term of years not exceeding 15 years or as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

Website: http://felonymurderfl.org

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Change the Felony Murder Rule in Florida Petition to Florida Legislators was created by Citizens for Changing the Felony Murder Rule in Florida and written by Christina Williams (shoofoolatte@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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