Gov. DeSantis is doing the right things to protect our civil liberties | Letter to the editor

While watching the county commissioners’ April 3, 2020, meeting, I heard the director of public safety made the statement that nothing is more important than health.

However, there are people, including Gov. Ron DeSantis who believe that our civil liberties are also important such as the fundamental right to travel, the Fourth Amendment right to be secure in our persons and homes, the First Amendment right to free assembly, and the Fifth Amendment right to be compensated even for temporary takings of our property.

Under extreme conditions of martial law (we are not there — yet) if you are shot by authorities your rights are more important than your health because you are dead. Similarly our economic well being can affect our health and become more important if supply lines are disrupted, goods and food are simply not available, and our houses are foreclosed on. In extreme economic circumstances we starve or become more susceptible to disease and again we die.

In the light of health, civil liberties, and the economy there must be a three pronged approach to this crisis. Governor DeSantis implemented that three-pronged approach in his recent Executive Order No. 20-91. In that order he protected religious freedom, guaranteed some freedom of movement, and provided for the protection of the lives of many including the elderly and others with serious illnesses.

In order to keep our economy moving Governor DeSantis has wisely provided for keeping essential businesses open. Rather than violating the civil rights of Florida residents, he is trying to protect us by limiting auto travel from Louisiana and New York. Many of us know of people from New York who are ignoring the self quarantine order. Let’s get behind the governor.

Sandra Piper

Parrish