By Jason Blakeney | Daily News Executive Editor
Posted at 9:00 AM
Updated at 9:24 AM
With most local elections behind us and the summer tourist season winding down, you might think it’s time for a little local relaxation at beaches along the Emerald Coast.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
In Friday’s, edition Daily News’ Annie Blanks reported on an unfortunate incident in south Walton County.
A man was arrested for criminal mischief under $200 and booked into the Walton County Jail, Blanks reported, after destroying no trespassing signs on the beach. He was upset, according to the arrest report, because “the property owner causing his guest grief for being on the beach above the mean high tide water line.”
This act in itself is embarrassing. It doesn’t bode well for the reputation of the area. But the most embarrassing part is reaction to the story on social media.
The word “hero” is getting thrown around, and for that, the people using it, “liking” it and supporting it should be ashamed.
To be clear, this man wasn’t arrested because of his opposition to House Bill 631 or his support of customary use. He wasn’t arrested for peacefully protesting. He wasn’t arrested for expressing the belief that all beaches in Florida should be public.
He was arrested because he destroyed someone else’s property. And this is where the line should be drawn.
Regardless of what side of the HB 631 argument you live on, this can’t be normalized, accepted or enjoyed. Acts like this only guarantee more turmoil.
If you support customary use, encouraging others to break the law isn’t OK. It doesn’t matter if you believe all people have a fundamental right to use the beach. Right now, HB 631 is the law. Right now, legally, you don’t have a right to use some of the beach. Right now, you have a clear legal path to get that right back.
How can those supporting customary use expect homeowners not to react with ignorance and violence if that’s what they are confronted with? And what if you do win in court? What if customary use is again enacted? What if you can return to recreationally using the entire beach? Do you expect homeowners to follow those rules? Of course you do.
The point is that we can’t pick and choose which laws and ordinances we choose to follow. You don’t have to like the result of HB 631, but it’s the law. It doesn’t matter that it’s a bill that shows corruption in the Legislature. It doesn’t matter that it targeted Walton County. It doesn’t matter that it isn’t popular.
Encouraging the behavior and insulting real heroes who risk their lives in our community and around the world to enforce our laws and defend our freedom is not acceptable.
Behavior on both sides of this issue has been ridiculous. Grow up, Walton County. There is no excuse for this.
Jason Blakeney is the executive editor of the Northwest Florida Daily News. You can reach him at jblakeney@nwfdailynews.com or 315-4404.
Replies
46
Beach FanaticAuthor
I am not really meaning to defend him as much as I just think is is beyond comprehension that he has that kind of stronghold on FL politicians. There are so many things that have created the beach situation that it seems important that people quit playing the blame game and start coming up with ways to make the situation better. Just for the record, I trust most politicians about as far as I can throw them, which is not far at all.
I think you have underestimated his political influence & money.
Beach Fanatic
Thick as thieves the cloaked klansmen be.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Then why are you defending Mr. Huckabee when he is clearly behind the passage of bill 631 that repealed our customary use ordinance?
I believe Representative Drake.
Do you??
I believe Drake was covering his own backside and would lie to you just as any other politician would.
Beach Fanatic
Thick as thieves the cloaked klansmen be.
Wow, so the klan is involved too? What about Russia?
Beach Lover
wow Kaydence
you believe Huckabee is not involved??
wow
you believe Huckabee is not involved??
wow
Beach FanaticAuthor
wow Kaydence
you believe Huckabee is not involved??
wow
That is not what I said. Re-read
Beach Fanatic
Wow, so the klan is involved too? What about Russia?The Russians also in your white house..
Beach Fanatic
The Russians also in your white house..
So Mike Huckabee, the klan, and Russia are all involved in the customary use battle; what about MS-13, or #BLM?
Beach Fanatic
I think you have underestimated his political influence & money.
You may be right, Kaydence. If he could really pull off something like this on influence alone without those legislators believing it was the right thing to do, I actually find that remarkable, but scary.
Beach Fanatic
So Mike Huckabee, the klan, and Russia are all involved in the customary use battle; what about MS-13, or #BLM?The foxes have eaten all the chickens. If you are a Republican leader you are corrupt and spineless. If you are a Republican follower you are a lemming following traitors.
Beach Lover
The truth is the truth
it will be reveled
I will never forget what he did to all of us
and i will continue to tell it - that is what i have been told to do.
it will be reveled
I will never forget what he did to all of us
and i will continue to tell it - that is what i have been told to do.
Beach Lover
reavealed i mean sorry
Beach Fanatic
Back to the guy and the sign...perhaps he should have moved the sign which had been placed OUTSIDE the private beach area and on his condo's property and put it where it belonged.
A lot to this story that people don't know. He spent the night in jail. Incident over.
A lot to this story that people don't know. He spent the night in jail. Incident over.
Beach Fanatic
Civil disobedience generally won't get you arrested. Tresspassing can.
You have a woefully inadequate knowledge of how this country was founded. Maybe a little History 101 should be in your future.
“It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
Beach FanaticAuthor
You have a woefully inadequate knowledge of how this country was founded. Maybe a little History 101 should be in your future.
“It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.”
― Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
I am well aware of how this country was founded but I wasn't speaking in past tense. We have come a way since the days of Ghandi, MLK & Rosa Parks but obviously haven't learned as much as we should have.
SoWal Guide
Far more who applauded his actions and said that signs were "trash" so they should be thrown away. Some people just defended his actions, but others actually called him a hero.
I'm sorry to report that I saw some comments just today where a few people (out of many) were supportive of his actions. Not good.
Beach Lover
Maybe some residents of the county would like for some others to go back where they came from. I preferred to redneck Riviera to what it is now.
Beach Fanatic
Rosa Parks says hello.
Beach Lover
This is the way I see it. Whether customary use is a go or not, the beaches are still the same size as they`ve always been, give or take on erosion. With the over development and advertising ( and this still continues ) this will always be an issue in Walton County. This will not go away.
Beach Lover
This is the way I see it. Whether customary use is a go or not, the beaches are still the same size as they`ve always been, give or take on erosion. With the over development and advertising ( and this still continues ) this will always be an issue in Walton County. This will not go away.Sea level rise will eliminate the issue. This is like folks arguing over seats on the Titanic.
Beach Fanatic
Each time I read the posts in this forum (or watch the news) I am reminded of the degeneration of human civility. Lets face it humans don't want to mix even when we say we do! Civil disobedience has consequences. Disobedience has punishments. Please don't mix this up. It is not that difficult to be civil but when we start justifying disobedience with civility we all lose. Maybe if the disobedience were connected to a long oppressed group of people it would be acceptable but that is not the case here. Destructive behavior is destructive behavior. We should all be focused on sea level rise and let the court decide issues that we as a community can't...
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