Politics
hurricane ian

‘We’re a Second Amendment state’: DeSantis warns looters after Hurricane Ian

By
Social Links for Jon Levine
Published Oct. 1, 2022, 9:52 a.m. ET
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed homeowners are entitled to shooting potential looters following Hurricane Ian's landfall. Shutterstock

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a pointed warning to anyone looking to take advantage of the chaos caused by Hurricane Ian.

“Don’t even think about looting. Don’t even think about taking advantage of people in this vulnerable situation. And so local law enforcement is involved in monitoring that,” he said during a Friday news conference.

“You can have people you know bringing boats into some of these islands and trying to ransack people’s homes. I can tell you, in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home, and I would not wanna chance that if I were you, given that we’re a Second Amendment state,” he added.

The governor said at one point he saw a sign on a boarded up business in Punta Gorda, Fla. which said only “you loot, we shoot,” Florida Politics reported

There have been sporadic reports of looting in some of the state’s hardest hit areas. In Fort Myers cops busted five youthful looters. Another man was collared for burglary and criminal mischief in Levy County, WCJB20 reported.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno echoed DeSantis on Friday, offering a stern warning as Ian ravaged his jurisdiction.

A man walks through a street among damaged homes and businesses and debris in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, following Hurricane Ian.
Authorities have encouraged residents to shoot any potential looters. Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP
A resident walks through what is left of the Times Square area near the Lynn Hall Pier on Fort Myers beach on Sept. 30, 2022.
A resident walks through what is left of the Times Square area near the Lynn Hall Pier on Fort Myers beach on Sept. 30, 2022. SF Sun Sentinel / Polaris
A group of looters were arrested in Fort Myers beach.
A group of looters was arrested on Fort Myers beach. Twitter/@GageGoulding

“For any of those individuals that think they are going to go out there and loot or prey on people during this horrific event — you better think twice,” Marceno said. “When I say zero tolerance, zero tolerance means we will hunt you down, track you down, and you’re going to jail. If you’re lucky.”