Group implores Senate to pass bill on defacing hero statues

TALLAHASSEE — A s mal l group of military veterans and re-enactors contended Monday some lawmakers appear “anti-veteran” for not moving forward with a measure that would make it a third-degree felony for defacing a statue or memorial of a hero.

But the proposal, which has cleared House committees, has brushed against a priority of Senate President Joe Negron aimed at keeping young offenders out of the criminal-justice system.

Addressing reporters at the Florida Press Center, members of the group called “Save the Honor” implored Senate leaders to start advancing a bill (SB 418) titled the “Soldiers’ and Heroes’ Monuments and Memorials Protection Act.”

Seber Newsome, a veteran from Yulee, said the st ate has stiffffffffffffer punishments for vandalizing a public phone booth than charges that can be imposed for defacing a memorial for a veteran or fifirst responder.

“Florida has the third largest veterans’ population in the nation, but memorials f o r h e r ve t e r a n s a r e c u rrently under attack,” Newsome said. “They’re being used as either free billboards for propaganda, or canvases for public art.”

The bill fifiled by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, has failed to get heard by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, its first scheduled stop, as the regular 60-day legislative session enters its final three weeks.

Committee Chairman Rand o l p h B r a c y, D - Orl a n d o, rejected the contention he’s anti-veteran. Instead, he said he has an aversion to creating new penalties, particularly a proposal that would make vandalism a felony.

I t w a s n ’ t n e c e s s a r i l y directed towards this particular bill,” Bracy said. “That’s kind of been an overall policy position of mine.”

The measure would impose a felony charge for defacing or damaging a memorial, grave or tomb that represents a Continental soldier or member of the U.S. military, a NASA astronaut or a fifirst responder.