Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing to expand his state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law to include "anti-mob" verbiage. The new legislation from DeSantis is making waves because it would give citizens the right to shoot people who are “interrupting or impairing” business during “violent or disorderly assembly.”
Following a summer of uprisings that included the looting of places like Target, many feel that DeSantis is directly giving others the right to shoot and kill people who loot during a demonstration. The broad nature of the law may also give Florida residents the right to shoot those who are standing by during looting or engaging in activities such as graffiti.
“It dangerously gives armed private citizens power to kill as they subjectively determine what constitutes ‘criminal mischief’ that interferes with a business,” former Miami-Dade prosecutor Aubrey Webb said.
“Someone graffiti-ing ‘Black Lives Matter’ on a wall? Urinating behind a dumpster? Blocking an entrance?”
Adding on, business owners have called DeSantis out. Some feel that this law will only cause more trouble at local businesses during tense situations.
“We don’t want to give people the opportunity to go out there and commit crime unnecessarily because it could turn to something totally different,” McCray's Backyard BBQ Owner Derrick McCray said.
Ultimately, business owners, attorneys and citizens alike have come together against the proposed legislature.
“I don’t think this law should be passed. I think this is a dangerous law," criminal defense attorney Gregg Lerman said.
"I think this law doesn’t lead to peace in the streets.”
The expansion of the "Stand Your Ground" law remains a draft. There is no word as to when or if it will hit the state House or Senate.
Photo: Getty Images