Posted on 08/30/2023 5:08:08 PM PDT by MtnClimber
As Florida recovers from Hurricane Ian, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a moral plea against looting that appears to have some firepower behind it.
Speaking near Fort Myers in the leveled community of Matlacha on Friday, the Republican Governor relayed one sight he saw in Punta Gorda in neighboring Charlotte County the day prior.
“They boarded up all the businesses, and there are people that wrote on their plywood, ‘you loot, we shoot,'” DeSantis said. “At the end of the day, we are not going to allow lawlessness to take advantage of this situation. We are a law-and-order state, and this is a law-and-order community, so do not think that you’re going to go take advantage of people who’ve suffered misfortune.”
The Governor also commented on the grit and resilience of the community and called for “all hands on deck” regarding the rule of law. However, his dispatch was choppy, making the overall statement unclear.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said he had spoken at length to Attorney General Ashley Moody, who was also on the scene.
“We are not going to tolerate — and I mean zero tolerance — when we say anyone that thinks they’re going to thrive on the residents of this county or state when we just took a horrific hit, I can guarantee you that is not going to happen,” Marceno said.
Later in St. Augustine, DeSantis said he told Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie that the state could provide support in the event of people bringing boats to try to “ransack” homes on islands that have been isolated from the mainland.
“I can tell you, in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home,” DeSantis said. “I would not want to chance that if I were you, given that we’re a Second Amendment state.”
Also on Friday, Moody took to Twitter to share a video of people reportedly arrested for looting in Fort Myers Beach.
“Florida will not tolerate looters taking advantage of (Hurricane Ian) to prey on vulnerable Floridians. They will be arrested and I have asked state attorneys to seek the longest pretrial detention possible to keep them locked up so they cannot commit new crimes,” she tweeted....
It is hard to believe that there are people who would take advantage of hurricane victims, but they are out there.
Yep. Including rogue roofers and builders.
Article is not current,
it is from last year (September 30, 2022).
Hurricane Ian.
“””‘You loot, we shoot’: Gov. DeSantis stresses law and order in Ian-ravaged communities””””
Was this really published by Florida Politics in August 2023???????????????
IAN happened in 2022.
Big talk but you guys will not harm a hair on the precious heads of any of the little colored darlings.
Most definitely! The really sad part about Florida and hurricanes is that there are so many newbies down here that have never experienced a catastrophic weather event where they used to live.. Hurricanes, snow storms, floods, tornadoes, mudslides , fires, etc. The most they’ve dealt with is maybe their power went out for a day or two and they are clueless.
The termites and grifters ALWAYS show up to “fix your roof” 12 hours after a cane. I’ve lived in Florida 40 plus years. Been through it all.
Wow, Hot Air linked to it today. The date was so small I did not see it clearly.
And my newer New York neighbors can’t even change the battery on their thermostat without asking the city how to do it! I don’t have a whole lot of hope for the rest of society…
He reiterated it today so you’re good
With all due respect friend… In this day and age, why would it be hard to believe?
We’re living in the “age of the asshole” right now. Nothing surprises me anymore.
You know something…? You’re talking like a jerk.
You’d probably find that the vast majority of post-hurricane looters here are white. The places they loot, sadly, aren’t even the houses of the wealthy but often the double-wides of our less prosperous folks. That’s why a lot of older people were refusing to leave .. they didn’t have much but it was all they had.
DeSantis has told the Guard that they can shoot looters on sight, and has made it clear that residents have the right to protect their property.
But mostly he wants it clear that FL law enforcement won’t ignore looting, so that people who were afraid to evacuate and abandon their property - and instead lost their lives - will now go to safety.
Yep! In fact, and unfortunately, I knew a rogue roofer in Bama who pounced right on FL disasters. Disgusting a-hole.
I had him arrested years ago for stealing our materials we had bought. And he came recommended by a realtor friend of mine! Ugh!
Can’t trust anyone.
Looting is sort of what every illegal immigrant is doing.
Seriously? You one of those cockroaches who rip people off after a catastrophic event or just an AH?
Seriously? You don’t recognize a bit of sarcasm when it’s plain as day?
Apparently not. Use a sarc tag or something similar to avoid dragging
That is racist!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.