Just thought i’d kick off a Friday night OT. Not good news from Fla even if its just a proposal from Death Sentence;

Ron DeSantis plans Florida paramilitary force outside federal control

Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, has proposed an extraordinary plan to create a state paramilitary unit that he, rather than the federal government, would control.

DeSantis, a Republican, has asked state lawmakers to fund the establishment of what he is calling the Florida state guard to assist with “state-specific emergencies”.

This force of 200 selected volunteers would “not be encumbered by the federal government”, the governor said.

If the $3.5m plan goes ahead, Florida would gain a state-run force alongside its national guard, which is jointly funded by the federal government and the state.

Florida has previously created a state guard in 1941 to fill in for national guard members who were fighting in the second world war, but the unit was disbanded in 1947.

Related: Ron DeSantis wants to pay anti-vaccine police $5,000 to relocate to Florida

“Re-establishing the Florida state guard will allow civilians from all over the state to be trained in the best emergency response techniques and have the ability to mobilize very, very quickly,” DeSantis said on Thursday.

Florida would become the 23rd state with a state guard, according to the governor’s office.

The proposal has been sharply criticized by Democrats, who accused DeSantis of authoritarian motives.

“No governor should have his own handpicked secret police,” tweeted Charlie Crist, a Democrat who is running for Florida governor in elections held next year, having previously served as governor as a Republican.

DeSantis said the state guard would be deployed to deal with the aftermath of natural disasters, such as the hurricanes that routinely hit Florida, although these troops could be put to other tasks.

WI– Like the protests against RvW when the USSC overturns it. I doubt the training will be like the armed forces has, I remember Honer’e telling the troops to keep thier weapons down and not in an ready to use position as these are American citizens. It will be like a private Army subject to death sentences whims for deployment. He’ll welcome anti vaxxers to serve which will be just great for the general public.

This serves as an open thread! Come join in!