Governor Ron DeSantis has caught attention for a “controversial bill” that allows residents in his state of Florida to defend themselves from threatening bears.
The Republican leader, who has been a thorn in the side of leftists as he has passed legislation to keep his state “free” from leftwing ideology, now “raises eyebrows” with HB 87, according to Newsweek.
The law signed on Friday “allows residents to shoot bears if they perceive a threat, sparking debate and concern among wildlife advocates and others,” Newsweek reported.
Newsweek: If a bear wants to attack you, you should not be able to defend yourself.
— Ham (@zedidutch) June 24, 2024
“The legislation, known as HB 87, was signed by DeSantis on Friday without public comment. The new law, which goes into effect on July 1, permits individuals to use lethal force against bears if they believe there is an ‘imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury’ to a person, pet, or substantial damage to a dwelling,” the outlet continued.
Did @peta write this headline?
— Brendon Leslie (@BrendonLeslie) June 24, 2024
Newsweek covered the “story” by highlighting some of the comments from opponents of the measure and Politico noted that there had been “warnings by opponents that it could lead to widespread bear killings” during debate on the bill.
“Well, that’s very unfortunate. I think it’s going to be challenged [in court] so they are going to spend taxpayer money defending it,” Elizabeth Fleming with Defenders of Wildlife told the outlet.
The organization warned on its website that the bill would legalize a “shoot first, ask questions later” policy, OneProtest had launched a Change petition in 2023 claiming the legislation “promotes a false narrative that bears are overpopulating and threaten human safety.”
“Bill supporters said that because of how it’s written, the legislation shouldn’t encourage anyone to maliciously kill bears. The person who shoots the bear must report it to state wildlife officials within 24 hours, and is not allowed to keep any of its remains,” Politico reported.
On social media, eyebrows were raised not so much over the new law but the report detailing the “controversy” of protecting oneself from a wild animal.
So you think it’s controversial that the law allows killing bears if they are attacking you or your children?
Did you read the law or were you just told to put out a hit piece on @GovRonDeSantis & dutifully cranked out your activist garbage?
— JW (@C130GuyBNA) June 24, 2024
Why is defending yourself, someone else, or your pet from a bear eyebrow-raising?
— Gator Mustache (@Wobblerobber) June 23, 2024
Really? Defending yourself from being attacked by a bear is raising eyebrows? And you wonder why corporate media is failing
— jaded tourist (@jaded_tourist) June 23, 2024
The only thing newsworthy here is that states now have to pass laws like this. In a sane world, protecting people from prosecution for acting reasonably-i.e., being able to use deadly force when faced with a life-threatening situation-would not be controversial, but here we are.
— Been There (@stateinfide) June 25, 2024
The only thing newsworthy here is that states now have to pass laws like this. In a sane world, protecting people from prosecution for acting reasonably-i.e., being able to use deadly force when faced with a life-threatening situation-would not be controversial, but here we are.
— Been There (@stateinfide) June 25, 2024
You must let the bears eat you to make liberals happy.
— MrConservanator (@MrConservanator) June 23, 2024
Why the media sucks, example # 3,199.014,217.
— Constitutional Minarchist (@DavisMinarchist) June 25, 2024
So it’s fine to kill a harmless, non threatening unborn baby for “choice”, but not to kill a threatening wild animal…
Bears are unpredictable. I worked on a bear management team for the National Park Service. The only time a bear is dangerous is when they’re hungry, or angry, or tired, or bored, or threatened, or curious, or near you. Otherwise, no worries.