Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Responds to Criticism Over Jacksonville Shooting

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference on Thursday where he addressed criticism directed at him following the shooting incident in Jacksonville last month, which claimed the lives of three individuals.

During the press conference, an unidentified man expressed his respect for DeSantis’s military service but then seemed to blame the governor’s policies for allowing such shootings. He stated that DeSantis had “allowed people to hunt people like me.”

DeSantis swiftly responded, asserting that he would not tolerate being accused of criminal activity. He clarified that the individual responsible for the shooting had been subjected to a Baker Act, a Florida law that permits involuntary commitment to a mental health facility. The shooting is currently being investigated as a hate crime, as all the victims were Black.

DeSantis emphasized the importance of truth and rejected the notion of subjective truths, saying, “No, you don’t get to come here and blame me for some madman. That is not appropriate, and I’m not going to accept it.”

The Florida governor, who is also a contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, used the press conference to highlight the state’s law enforcement officials and discuss his opposition to COVID-19 pandemic measures.

This isn’t the first time DeSantis has faced public criticism in the aftermath of the shooting. He was booed at a vigil held in Jacksonville to honor the victims.

DeSantis had previously garnered scrutiny earlier this year for signing a bill that removed licensing requirements for Florida residents to carry concealed firearms in most public places. He has advocated for open carry laws in the state.

Florida has been the site of significant anti-gun violence movements, particularly after the 2018 shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which claimed the lives of 17 students and faculty members.