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DeSantis Will Pardon Floridians Hit With COVID Violations
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared on Fox News Wednesday to announce his intent to pardon Floridians who defied COVID safety protocols. He broke the decision live on air while Fox News featured a Florida couple facing jail time for violating coronavirus safety recommendations.
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Gym Couple Arrested For Protesting Mask Mandate At Gym
Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle” hosted by Ingraham featured Mike and Jillian Carnavale, the couple who kept their gym open during the pandemic.
Mike Carnavale recounted that two months after South Florida reopened gyms, Broward County issued a new mandate. The county required gym-goers to wear face masks over their mouths during exercise sessions. When the couple filed a lawsuit, Broward County officials arrested them within 24 hours.
Consequently, Broward County charged Carnavale with two second-degree misdemeanors for a total of 120 days in jail. Meanwhile, Strolla faces a second-degree misdemeanor as well which carries 60 days incarceration.
The charges stem from the couple’s insistence that people should not wear masks while exercising. Speaking to Ingraham, the couple’s attorney Cory Strolla added that they wanted to ask the Governor to intervene in their case.
DeSantis Appears Live
DeSantis decided to show up on air to assure a couple of his support. He announced live that he would make sure they receive a pardon.
I’m glad you have Mike and Jillian on, and I’m also glad to be on to be able to say that effective tomorrow morning, I’m going to sign a reprieve under my constitutional authority,” the governor said as the couple and their attorney listened with wide smiles. Then, he added that he will pardon Floridians “that may have outstanding infractions for things like masks and social distancing.”
Referring to the Carnavales, DeSantis decried Broward County’s approach.“The fact is, it’s not even right to be wearing masks when you’re exercising,” he continued. “The World Health Organization advises against it. It’s not healthy for people to be doing that in the first place. So it was a bad restriction. But these things with health should be advisory; they should not be punitive. And so we’re happy to use our constitutional authority. I think they’ve been treated poorly and fortunately, they’ve got a governor that cares.”
Advisory Not Punitive
“It’s a total overreach,” DeSantis told host Laura Ingraham. “These things with health should be advisory, they should not be punitive,” he said.
As far back as last September, the governor already wanted all fines and penalties related to COVID protocols suspended. “I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for social distancing and just work with people constructively,” he said.
Watch the Fox News video reporting that Florida governor Ron DeSantis grants clemency to ‘Ingraham Angle' guests on live TV:
Do you agree with Governor DeSantis’ plan to pardon Floridians who defied COVID-19 recommendations? Do you agree with his thinking that officials should approach health matters constructively and not punitively?
In addition, what do you think of Governor DeSantis’ leadership? Let us know what’s on your mind. Drop your comments in the comment section below.
23 Comments
I have med reasons that interfere with wearing a. Mask. It’s hard for me to breath while wearing a mask. There are times I have problems with my breathing not wearing a mask. So it should up to myself if I want to wear a mask. To each his own. If I want to take the risk of getting COVID 19, then that’s my problem.
DeSantis gets it. The scamdemic is total biowarfare – all the evidence is there.
Leadership, excellent.
Our Governor here in Florida totally gets it. It’s time to get back to normal, whatever that might be. Let’s move forward. I know in the beginning it was to keep everyone safe, but if they truly believe in this vaccine let’s move on. The Biden and his cohorts have caused the issue and we have to start realizing this.
I believe the governor is acting, just like a governor should, to help the people in his state. Not only a governor but a personable person believes all people should have rights
It’s been much easier to use riots (“peaceful protests” for u lefties) to steal things with everyone wearing masks. Wearing masks creates a sense of anonymity…DementiaJoe thought wearing a mask would shield him from scrutiny…but the press already does that for him.
governor DESANTIS you are who we need in DC The left side just needs to go and find their own new world and leave the rest of us real citizens of this country alone M A G A
For older people like me, it’s hard to wear a mask for long periods of time! It get hard to breathe after awhile. I’m 80!
The Great Scamdemic of 2020, planned and executed by the New World Order! Live your life as a free man, not as a meat puppet, those elected officials are way out of bounds. Take back your liberties and bow before No One
Just a good man with a great heart! 💜 …and a sane mind!
I disagree they should be held accountable play by the same rules everyone else did (medical exceptions only) yes the mask are uncomfortable but remember they were to help stop the spread of covid to others why couldn’t they be a little uncomfortable for a while maybe if they would have had a friend or family member fighting for their life it would have been a different outcome.
We were told masks were to keep from spreading it, not to keep from getting it. Masks do absolutely nothing to stop you from breathing it in, only to help absorb it on the way out of your body. Do you seriously believe that someone with covid will be able to work out heavily??
JB…they should be held accountable for what exactly? They own the business. If someone doesn’t want to go there, they don’t have to. No one should be able to tell you what to do in your own place of business. No one has any personal responsibility anymore. They need the government to tell them what to do and how to do it. That is not America…people like JB need to educate themselves on what a Constitutional Republic is. Thank goodness for people like Governor DeSantis.
When I look at stats that show fewer deaths overall for the country, during the past year I’m inclined to disbelieve that this pandemic is any more serious than viruses in years past. I believe the stats were 8% this past year and 9% the past three years. I no longer have the stats so if someone does please help out and give the credit to the proper place.
In 17 minutes of mask wear MOLD starts to form. Masks should be washed after wearing, people stuff them in a pocket and reuse.UGH! Parents are putting them on innocent children. We breath out co2 & with a mask rebreath it. We need oxygen not co2.
All the more reason to ditch the masks Carol.
We need more governors like him. Lets get back to what is important and stay focused on our creator and follow a spiritual path.
Its the right of all the people to use their common since to make the choice, not government telling you what to do.
Desantis is right again! Florida is lucky to have a governor like him!
We have the right to choose for our selves !!! We do live in the United States of America!!! Free choice the Constitution says!!!
Wearing a mask to prevent a virus is like throwing sand against a chain link fence and expecting that fence to prevent the sand from getting through. It doesn’t work.
WOW,…..imagine that! A politician acting like someone elected by the people instead of a power mongering tyrant. DeSantis is a breath of fresh air in a country full of power hungry elected idiots!!
Great man we need more men like him he has what I call b–ls.