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Americans everywhere are facing financial difficulties. The nation is facing the highest inflation rate since 1981. The cost of everyday necessities are soaring out of control and gas prices are hitting people across the country in their wallet.
One man in Florida is offering a way to save taxpayers some money. Sheriff Bob Johnson of Santa Rosa County advises residents, “If somebody breaks into your house, you’re more than welcome to shoot at them.”
The statement stems from an incident that occurred on April 20th of this year in the area of Tom Sawyer Road located in the Pace neighborhood of Milton, Florida.
Brandon J. Harris is accused of breaking into multiple homes that Wednesday evening. Mr. Harris got more than he bargained for when one of the homeowners acted on his right to defend his home and family and shot at the intruder.
Harris was uninjured by any of the rounds the homeowner used to defend himself. In his quest to get away, he broke into another home. Sheriff’s Deputies cornered the intruder in that residence and located him hiding in a bedroom.
He blocked the door to the room and dove out the window head first into the waiting arms of Sheriff’s Deputies who took him into custody without further incident. Harris suffered minor injuries from the glass he shattered.
Sheriff Johnson informed reporters during a press conference on the incident that Harris was well-known to local law enforcement. He referred to Harris as a “Frequent Flyer” who has been arrested 17 different times. The department’s first interaction with him came when he was just 13 years old. He has already spent six and a half years in prison.
Harris’ criminal history includes charges of assault and battery, home invasion, resisting arrest, and numerous probation violations and he is a registered sex offender. At the time of the incident, several active arrest warrants were issued for him.
The homeowner who shot at Harris has not come forward and the Sheriff thinks it is because he is afraid to get in trouble. Johnson wants to let the resident know he did nothing wrong. “If somebody is breaking your home, you’re more than welcome to shoot them in Santa Rosa County. We prefer that you actually do.”
Florida has self-defense laws that include what is known as the “Stand Your Ground” law. The statute grants individuals the ability to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to themselves or another person.
It is not the “Castle Doctrine” adopted by other states which requires the individual to retreat to a safer space if there is one.
Defense attorneys across the nation have expressed concern with the Sheriff’s words. They are worried it will give homeowners a justifiable excuse they are looking for to shoot people who are breaking into their homes.
Jude Faccidomo, the President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, believes it was irresponsible on the Chief’s behalf because “There are times somebody is not an imminent threat to you,” as reported by NPR.
Sheriff Johnson disagrees with the criminal defense lawyers. “I’m a cop, not a politician,” he said during his appearance on Fox & Friends. “If somebody breaks into your house in Santa Rosa County, and you shoot and kill him, the chances of them reoffending after that is zero. And we like those odds.”
