A Florida sheriff warned the throngs of people moving to his state not to vote “the stupid way you did up north, or you’ll get what they got.”
“We’re a special place, and there are millions and millions of people who like to come here. And quite frankly, we like to have them here,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said. “So we only want to share one thing as you move in hundreds a day: Welcome to Florida, but don’t register to vote and vote the stupid way you did up north, or you’ll get what they got.”
“There’s a reason that this place is fun,” Judd continued. “There’s a reason why we have a 49-year low crime rate. And the same people that don’t think we should have an anti-rioting bill or a rioting bill are the same ones that think we ought to let more people out of prison. And where they’re doing that, as the governor and our speakers have alluded to, crime goes up, but it’s not just crime that goes up. Victimization goes up.”
Though he did not specifically mention that the “stupid” way of voting was directed at Democrats, people from blue states have been flocking to Florida and Texas in recent months. For example, there was a 46.2% increase in the amount of San Francisco residents who moved to Florida between 2019 and 2020.
FLORIDA SHERIFF SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PEACEFUL PROTEST AND RIOT WITH TWO PHOTOS
Judd’s comments came during a Monday press conference in which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an anti-rioting bill into law, which will make it harder for local governments to strip funding from law enforcement departments and creates a minimum sentence for those convicted of assaulting police officers.
“Never have I seen the leadership that I see with Gov. DeSantis, with Speaker [Chris] Sprowls, and with President [Wilton] Simpson,” Judd added. “They’re making a positive difference, not for government, but for the people of the state of Florida. Florida is a unique place and a special place. It’s where we work, where we live, but it’s also where the world comes to play, to bring their children, and their children have a right to be safe.”
“We’ve got a new law, and we’re going to use it if you make us,” Judd said. “We’re going to protect the people. No longer will people walk up and surround you as a citizen of Florida or a visitor of Florida, surround you while you’re eating dinner at an outdoor cafe in a big mob without there being immediate consequences and arrest. It’s not acceptable.”
He also used two photographs to illustrate the difference between a peaceful protest and a riot during the press conference.
Polk County, Florida, Sheriff Grady Judd shows a picture of a “peaceful protest” and a picture of a “riot.”
“We can tell the difference.
And I’ll guarantee you that you’ll be able to tell the difference if you come here and riot.”pic.twitter.com/cVWW6J7Wdr
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 19, 2021
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Judd made headlines last year during the summer of unrest when he warned rioters that residents will “blow you back out of the house with their guns” if they arrived in his county.
“I would tell them, if you value your life, they probably shouldn’t do that in Polk County — because the people of Polk County like guns. They have guns. I encourage them to own guns, and they’re going to be in their homes tonight with their guns loaded. And if you try to break into their homes to steal, to set fires, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns. So leave the community alone,” he said at the time.
