Recent violent incidents involving elected officials in Florida and Minnesota have shed light on the alarming frequency of threats faced by lawmakers. This has pushed Florida's legislators to advocate for protective measures that would exempt their personal addresses from public disclosure. State officials, including Senators Jason Pizzo and Barbara Sharief, have shared personal stories of violence and intimidation, emphasizing the need for safety reforms to prevent further harm to public servants. This urgent dialogue aims to create a secure environment for elected officials and their families.
"We get a lot of threats that we don't announce to the public... some lawmakers get death threats all the time." State Sen. Jason Pizzo highlights the widespread, unreported threats against officials.
"As the county's first Black female mayor, my home address was posted on a website affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan... that resulted in months of security protection for me and my family." State Sen. Barbara Sharief recounts her horrifying experiences.
"People don't run for office to be intimidated. People don't get into office for their families to be terrorized or hurt or harmed." State Sen. Shevrin Jones emphasizes the urgent need for legislation to protect lawmakers.
State lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would exempt certain personal information about elected officials from public disclosure due to rising threats and violence.
Collection
[
|
...
]