Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Exposes the Left's Inner Racist With New 'Anti-Mob' Legislation

As we’ve documented before, Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has an almost unmatched ability to bring out the absolute worst in Democrats and the media, and this week has unquestionably been no exception.

My RedState colleague Jeff Charles reported Wednesday on DeSantis’ latest push to crack down on the rioting, looting, and other dangerous violence that often occurs during Antifa/Black Lives Matter-led marches and related “peaceful protests.” Here’s an overall view of Gov. DeSantis’ proposal, via NBC News:

The draft legislation, which was provided to some lawmakers in late September, was first reported by The Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times this week. Florida’s self-defense law would be updated to include looting, criminal mischief and arson “that results in the interruption or impairment of a business operation” as justifications for using physical force, including lethal options, against a person.

Looting “means committing burglary within 500 feet of a violent or disorderly assembly,” according to the draft legislation, which was shared with NBC News.

Naturally, many on the left were triggered by the announcement as Jeff noted in his report. But another thing that DeSantis did quite by accident was to bring out the inner racist among some of the more outspoken Democrats and Democratic anti-gun groups who staunchly oppose the legislation. Here are just a few examples:

1/ Florida's @GovRonDeSantis has drafted legislation that would, in effect, empower armed white vigilantes to kill black people.

DeSantis wants to *expand* FL's Stand Your Ground law to allow armed citizens to shoot anyone engaged in “criminal mischief” that disrupts business

— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) November 11, 2020

Might be the most reckless, racist piece of legislation in quite some time. Makes it lawful to kill a looter for property crimes, ⬆️ penalties for “violent or disorderly assemblies”, blocking traffic becomes felony, immunity for drivers who hit protesters w/ 🚗s. https://t.co/Acfv1erBy9

— Daniel W. Webster (@DanielWWebster1) November 12, 2020

"Stand your ground" laws are dangerous and are proven to lead to racist violence. These laws empower individuals to shoot at anyone they perceive as a threat, and are often used to justify the murder of people of color.https://t.co/wDDYIoJssj

— MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence (@MACoalitionPGV) November 13, 2020

Ron DeSantis trying to legalize murdering “suspected” looters.

This is institutionalized. And it’s racist. https://t.co/5vuspbyT9J

— Kyle Morse (@Kyle_A_Morse) November 10, 2020

The Stand Your Ground law was an easy way to give racists the authority to kill! So I am not at all surprised that DeSantis is trying to tweak it for his racist base! https://t.co/3DgqAcyd5j

— Joanna Carr (@Joanna_Resists) November 10, 2020

Shorter Ron DeSantis: “Just go out and shoot all the Black people you see; you won’t be prosecuted.”
Get it together, Florida. You have got to get rid of this guy.https://t.co/MUutRGP16h

— Helen Noble ⚖️ (@BoobPunchTina) November 12, 2020

Notice the common denominator in all those tweets? The assumption by these people is that only persons of color are doing the looting and rioting during the “protests.”

The other assumption is that black, Hispanic, and Asian people have not been victims of violent looting and rioting themselves.

As we’ve seen from the anarchistic riots that have happened in Democrat-run cities like Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, and others for the last several months, that is most definitely not the case. Black, Hispanic, and Asian-owned businesses have been targeted by “peaceful protesters” of all colors. Black law enforcement officers have specifically been singled out by violent Antifa-BLM rioters, and unfortunately in some instances, some of those officers have either suffered serious injuries or have died while serving in their communities to protect the very people who turn around and “thank” them for their service by injuring or murdering them in cold blood.

So no, there is no nefarious “racist” motivation for DeSantis to try and strengthen laws that will allow innocent law-abiding citizens to better protect themselves, their families, homes, and livelihoods if under dangerous threat from rioters hellbent on whipping up purge-like protest mobs. On the other hand, the reactions of some on the left to DeSantis’ efforts does beg the question:

Just who are the real racists here? DeSantis and supporters of his efforts, or the radical leftists who seem to be suggesting that they think only black and brown people commit violent crimes?

I think the answer is pretty clear, but I’ll leave that up to readers to debate.

(Hat tip: Twitchy)