A bill making changes to Florida’s 10-20-Life law is now heading to the Senate floor, after passing its last committee Thursday.
Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Jacksonville), the bill’s Senate sponsor, says he wants to help those who have threatened someone with a gun, for example, in self-defense, but were later charged with aggravated assault and received an automatic lengthy prison term.
“CS SB 228 eliminates the minimum mandatory sentences for aggravated assault in the 10-20-Life statute,” said Bean.
The measure has the backing of the NRA, public defenders, state attorneys, and law enforcement. Sen. Maria Sachs (D-Delray Beach) also likes the bill.
“Thank you very much, Senator Bean,” she said. “This is, I hope, a beginning of a movement toward giving more discretion to our judges, when it comes to sentencing.”
Meanwhile, its House companion has passed one committee.
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