Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ideological assaults on drag queens, personal pronouns and the Walt Disney Company have restored Florida to its familiar position of national punchline. And his recent backing of a permitless concealed carry law and a six-week abortion ban, in spite of polls showing a majority of Floridians want neither, shows exactly what he thinks of most Floridians.
Now, enter the drones. Specifically, an estimated $200 million worth of aerial drones that, until recently, were being used productively by police, firefighters and mosquito control districts across Florida and in Tampa Bay. The problem for DeSantis (and the posse of adoring legislators who do his every bidding): The drones are manufactured by China-based Da Jiang Innovations, or DJI. Despite presenting no evidence they pose a security risk, the DeSantis administration says it is taking no chances with Chinese spying and has ordered them shelved.
A lot of law enforcement officials, and even a few Republican lawmakers, are not pleased with the decision. “I’m not going to let one officer risk his life or her life because someone thinks that these things talk to China,” Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach, said last month during a Senate committee hearing where he tried unsuccessfully to allow law enforcement to keep flying the Chinese-made drones.
