This week, Governor DeSantis introduced legislation to expand Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. If passed, this law would allow armed citizens to shoot those suspected of looting or otherwise engaged in criminal mischief that disrupts a business. It would also offer immunity to drivers who “unintentionally” hit or killed protesters blocking traffic. Whoa!
Our justice system is built on the premise of ‘innocent until proven guilty”. That premise has never held up very well in practice. But to turn the average Joe into judge, jury, and executioner certainly is not the answer. Florida is better than that.
2020 has been a difficult year for all of us. Many of us are searching for answers to difficult questions. For some, that means searching for answers to questions they may never have asked before. Legalizing murder is not the right answer, regardless of the question. This legislation will have one effect. It will declare open season on anyone who doesn’t “look, think, or act like me”. It places a target on the back of virtually every non-white person in the state.
So far this legislation has no supporters in the next legislative session which begins March 2. Let’s hope it stays that way. Florida election law currently does not allow voters to recall the governor. While vigilante justice has no place in Florida law, perhaps the right to recall the governor does.