Videos of Florida sheriffs encouraging residents to shoot intruders resurface

Florida is different.. pic.twitter.com/U5gLaMEtCT

— CT POLICE LIVE ? (@CTPOLICELIVE) March 24, 2024

 “If someone is breaking into your house, you’re more than welcome to shoot ‘em in Santa Rosa County,” Sheriff Johnson said in April 2022.

“We prefer that you do, actually.”

He noted that the department offers a gun safety class, suggesting that anyone who takes it will learn to “shoot a lot better — and hopefully you’ll save taxpayers’ money.”

Johnson’s comments at the time came after a local resident shot an alleged robber during a series of break-ins in Pace, Fla.

Two years before that, Judd issued a warning to home invaders after a curfew was set in the community of Lakeland due to looters during the pandemic.

“If you value your life, you 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,” he warned at the time.

 “And if you try to break into their homes, to steal, to set fire, I’m highly recommending they blow you back out of the house with their guns,” he said, adding, “So leave the community alone.”

The Florida sheriffs received some blowback for their bold advice, but it still resonated with Torontonians after Const. Marco Ricciardi suggested homeowners leave their keys by the front door for intruders.

Granted, it was in the name of safety and staying alive, but the messaging didn’t go over well with residents.

Toronto Police walked back Ricciardi’s “well-meaning” comments, saying, “There are better ways to prevent auto theft-motivated home invasions.”