Lake Ray talks media reaction to refugee legislation

The First Coast News story about HB 1095, state Rep. Lake Ray‘s “Prevention of Acts of War” bill, had an interesting headline: “Bill would let governor use military force against refugees.”

While the prospect of Gov. Rick Scott leading a “Red Dawn”-style counter-insurrection against rogue refugees makes for a fun imaginative exercise, Ray immediately took to social media to correct the impression created by the headline.

“To be clear, HB 1095 does not condone the use of military force against refugees. This legislation simply requires the Governor to verify the status and background of refugees attempting to settle in Florida. This is commonsense legislation to protect our economy and ensure our citizens are not put in danger,” Ray wrote.

In a Friday afternoon conversation with the Jacksonville Republican, Ray discussed the “very misleading” headline, saying that the bill addressed people from “very specific areas,” and that the headline depicts a scenario under which the “bill never would have been filed,” much less cleared a committee where “about half” of the members are co-sponsors of the legislation.

The bill authorizes the Governor to protect Florida from those who would settle here with the intention of committing acts of war, Ray said, identifying “dangerous immigrants,” including an “invader” (anyone who enters with the intent of committing acts of war), as well as the concept of a “restricted person” (any refugee or immigrant intending to settle in Florida, if they come from a location associated with invaders or prospective invaders.)

Nothing is proposed, Ray said, that runs counter to the constitution. Rather, the measure ensures that “the rights of the Governor are really reinforced” by proposed legislation.

After the committee meeting, Ray relates, a “number of Democrats shook my hand and said they know I’m passionate about this issue.”

Scott is also a fan of the bill, having told Ray that he appreciates it because he “can’t get any information out of the Feds” on the vetting process of refugees and proposed locations and timeframes of placement.

“The goal is to have the state engage with the federal government,” Ray said of his bill. “A conversation.”

Currently, that’s not happening.