We’ve spent a lot of time this year talking about riots and looting. Like no time in my life, we’re seeing more looting, rioting, and all-around idiocy in our cities. It’s not even one city that’s experiencing the totality of this insanity, either.

Many are trying to find solutions, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hit on an idea. He wants to expand the Stand Your Ground law so that it will cover those who use lethal force to stop looting.

For at least one columnist, that’s “fascist.”

But most telling of all is DeSantis’ call for an expansion of the troublesome and controversial Stand Your Ground Law to allow business owners to shoot looters or anyone involved in “criminal mischief.”

He calls it “anti-mob” legislation, but it’s an endorsement of vigilantes and of murder for a minor criminal offense.

It’s as if Florida, which let George Zimmerman get away with murdering a Black teen, didn’t already have enough vigilantes and wannabe vigilantes. But these are criminals the GOP likes because the ones we often hear about are Trump supporters.

In DeSantis World, they, instead of their victims, need to be protected. What’s next?

Banning the books Republicans aren’t fond of, sending writers to the slammer. No, it’s not preposterous. The GOP already campaigns fiercely to oust newspaper writers from their jobs.

Throughout the column, the writer, Fabiola Santiago, argues that DeSantis is being a fascist.

However, who is the bigger fascist, the man who gives people the power to defend their property, or the people who think it’s fine to destroy property because they’re a bit miffed?

Looting isn’t a “minor criminal offense,” it’s part of a larger pattern that destroys livelihoods overnight and Santiago’s decision to try and play it off like that shows just how little she thinks of the lives destroyed by looters.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not sure I agree with DeSantis on this one. Shooting someone for stealing is generally something we tell people is going too far, yet that’s what looting is. It’s theft.

On the other hand, looting is, as noted previously, something that destroyed people’s lives.

But that’s a discussion we can have, provided we can avoid the insanity of those who still believe George Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin despite the evidence clearly showing that Martin was trying to cave Zimmerman’s head in by bashing it against a concrete sidewalk. Santiago can’t be bothered to look beyond the approved narrative, so of course, everything is fascist.

While DeSantis’ proposal may or may not be wrong, it’s not fascist in any way.

Santiago can decry the lack of unity she sees in this country, but never forget the role of people like her in that disunity. There’s absolutely no reason to even bother trying to reach across the aisle when the other side is convinced you’re pure, unadulterated evil.

If Santiago is worried about fascism, maybe she should look to those who would destroy entire neighborhoods in a pique of petulant rage because they didn’t get their way on something. Again.