Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Stands Up for Gun Rights During Hurricane Milton
DeSantis is finally useful for once.
Earlier this month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an emergency declaration before Hurricane Milton struck that banned Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie from using his power to suspend or restrict firearms sales.
The order was issued shortly after the city of Okeechobee issued an ordinance before Hurricane Helene prohibiting citizens from carrying firearms and restricting the sale of firearms and ammunition, which propelled a backlash from DeSantis and pro-gun advocates in Florida’s gun rights community.
“I went straight to the City Council and confronted the Mayor on this issue,” declared Luis Valdez, the Florida director of Gun Owners of America. “The Mayor apologized to us and said the city made a mistake and will never do it again.”
Florida law grants the emergency management director the power to ban citizens from carrying firearms and selling firearms and ammunition while an emergency is taking place, but Guthrie has not taken such action thus far.
Valdez said that the main reason the Emergency Management Director is barred from prohibiting the sale of guns is due to how it infringes on the Second Amendment.
“Floridians have the right to keep and bear arms,” he stated. “The suspension of such a right is a clear violation of the Second Amendment. Such a ban wouldn’t stop criminals, but it sure would hurt the law-abiding.”
Good on DeSantis for upholding gun rights during a moment of crisis. More often than not, petty tyrants will use natural disasters and similar crises to justify power grabs. Strong leadership is needed during these sensitive moments.
Similarly, a fervent grassroots machine is needed to hold politicians accountable and make them stand up for our rights when it matters most. Politicians, even ones who claim to be pro-freedom can waver on these rights. That’s why the grassroots must be prepared to turn up the heat and make sure politicians hold the line.