Florida’s governor is under fire after drafting a new but controversial self-defense law.
According to sources, the anti-mob legislation expanded the already skeptical ‘stand your ground laws.’ Here, the law allows citizens to shoot looters.
Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis explained how the proposed bill will expand the ‘forcible felonies’. And this means it will have criminal mischief included in it too. Miami Herald confirmed the news, after attaining a copy via a records request.
At the same time, the new law promotes the use of force, against all the looters.point 180 | But what exactly does looting include? Well, the law clearly defines it as burglary that takes place within a 500 feet assembly of violence.point 297 |
Moreover, the Florida governor also expressed how he intends to make blocking traffic during protests a type of third-degree charges for a felony.point 124 | 1
This includes offering immunity to all the drivers that accidentally kill or even injure protesters.point 331 |
Other than that, you’ll find a number of other sections that further heighten criminal penalities in which individuals get involved in violent misconduct.point 138 | But what really raised eyebrows is how he added the withholding of state funds for all those local bodies that cut out funding for law enforcement.point 260 | 1
Meanwhile, the bill’s draft version is being circulated towards the Senate Committee pertaining to criminal justice. However, it still wasn’t filed by the House or the Senate. Even then, it’s spreading quite a bit of outrage.
A former prosecutor expressed how the draft was a little too vague. And that meant an increase in the possibility of justifiable deaths, right after some minor infractions. He said that the law dangerously provides private citizens with plenty of power to carry out killings. And that’s because they subjectively determine the real meaning of criminal mischief.
On the other hand, a civil rights attorney warned how such proposals could lead to chilling effects over freedom of speech.
Therefore, with America being a democratic state, it will be interesting how the new law plays out on finalized grounds.