Proposed Anti-Mob Legislation:
Much Needed Reform
By Dean Weingarten. November 19, 2020
Florida Governor DeSantis' administration is proposing a legislative fix to allow innocents to defend themselves and their property against rioting groups. The legislation targets violence by groups against private property and the flow of vehicular traffic, among other things.
2020 has been torn by violent riots in many Democrat controlled cities. One of the favored tactics by rioters, to gain attention, disturb the peace of uninvolved people, and demonstrate their power, is to take over public spaces, and destroy public and private property. Part of this tactic has been to block the public roads, detain and threaten vehicular traffic, to provoke motorists into action out of panic, then claiming the rioters are acting in self defense when they beat, shoot, or kill the motorists.
From news4jax.com:
The proposal would also increase criminal penalties for people involved in "disorderly assemblies," make it a third-degree felony to block traffic during protests and provide immunity to drivers who "unintentionally" hit protesters blocking traffic.
"One of the pros is that it creates immunity and protection for people who have to escape from a violent encounter if their car is surrounded, for example," constitutional attorney Eric Friday told News4Jax, saying there are positives and negatives in the draft legislation.
The Bill of Rights includes, in the First Amendment the right of the people to peaceable assembly. From the Constitution:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
.... 
For months, the anarchist groups seem to have a had a free pass when it comes to riotous actions - minimal condemnation and negligable consequences as they start fires, loot, and attack citizens. Too often, if someone attempted to defend themselves and property, it is they who risked being penalized. The First Amendment states "peaceable" when it comes to assembly - riotous actions are most certainly not peaceable - it should be lawful to be able to legitimately defend against such actions.
