Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried made waves on July 27, 2021 for her decision to strip 22 participants in the January 6 storming of the D.C. Capitol of their Florida concealed carry licenses. These participants were apparently residents of Florida, and thus subject to arbitrary moves like this.
Fried’s action provoked significant backlash from staunch America First conservatives. Florida State Representative Anthony Sabatini, a proven America First conservative state official, was the most vocal opponent of this move.
Sabatini tweeted on July 27, “In accordance with Art. 3, Sec. 5 of the FL Constitution, @NikkiFried should immediately be subpoenaed & investigated for this unlawful & politically motivated action
Although the House can only impeach for misdemeanors, we should immediately pass a law to strip her of all power.”
In accordance with Art. 3, Sec. 5 of the FL Constitution, @NikkiFried should immediately be subpoenaed & investigated for this unlawful & politically motivated action
Although the House can only impeach for misdemeanors, we should immediately pass a law to strip her of all power https://t.co/Y242kFxOfn
— Rep. Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) July 27, 2021
Sabatini made this tweet in response to a Fried’s tweet on July 27 where she said “I just suspended the concealed weapons permits of 22 people involved in the insurrection against the United States of America instigated by Donald Trump on January 6, 2021.”
According to National File, the loophole “that places the Division of Licensing – responsible for granting CWW licenses in the state – under the purview of the Florida Ag Commissioner is the result of an NRA lobbying campaign in 2002.”
Article 3, Section 5 of the Florida Constitution outlines, “Each house, when in session, may compel attendance of witnesses and production of documents and other evidence upon any matter under investigation before it or any of its committees, and may punish by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding ninety days, or both, any person not a member who has been guilty of disorderly or contemptuous conduct in its presence or has refused to obey its lawful summons or to answer lawful questions.”
Unlike his milquetoast Republican colleagues, Sabatini is not afraid to rock the boat. Sabatini is currently running for federal office in Florida’s 7th congressional district. His potential addition to Congress would be great for America First populists due to Sabatini’s strong stances in favor of an immigration moratorium and reigning in Big Tech.
All told, Sabatini offers a model for all Republicans to follow in the Trump era. Hopefully, other Republicans get the memo and start taking a page from Sabatini’s playbook.
