Florida Democrats pushed for ‘gun reform’ as suspended state attorney was ‘soft’ on violent crimes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – As Florida Democrats have consistently pushed for gun reform, former State Attorney Monique Worrell allegedly held “soft-on-crime” policies.

On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the suspension of Worrell of the 9th Judicial Circuit for “neglecting her duty to faithfully prosecute crime in her jurisdiction.”

Democrats have previously called for “gun reform,” advocating for the state senate to “pass legislation to make us all safer.”

When it comes to safety, however, DeSantis office noted Worrell’s practices or policies “subjected residents” to “increase risk of harm.”

“Worrell’s practices or policies of avoiding minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimes not only defies the expressed will of the Florida Legislature, it also subjects the residents of Orange and Osceola Counties and surrounding areas to increased risk of harm as violent criminals in the community are too often left on the streets or prematurely returned to the streets to cause, further violence and mischief,” DeSantis’ executive order said.

DeSantis’ office said Worrell has “authorized or allowed practices or policies whereby her assistant state attorneys are generally prevented or discouraged from obtaining meritorious minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimes.”

The administration released a list of rationale for suspending Worrell.

One example listed was an incident in November 2022, where 17-year-old Lorenzo Larry purportedly shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, De’Shayla Ferguson.

Larry had previously been arrested in May 2022 on several charges, including carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm on school property, and criminal possession of a firearm by a minor.

However, Larry was released after these arrests.

Worrell’s office did not act on any of these charges until after he allegedly killed his girlfriend and their unborn child, according to the governor’s office.

Another example included a 2018 incident where Jasir Dopson invaded a home in Orange County and robbed the occupants at gunpoint.

Dopson was charged with multiple counts of armed burglary with a firearm, robbery with a firearm, and false imprisonment.

These charges carried a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence with a maximum of life in prison.

After Worrell took office in 2021, five of the charges were reportedly not prosecuted and adjudication was withheld on the remaining, according to the governor’s office.

He was sentenced to only 51 weeks of jail time and sentenced as a youthful offender.

The governor’s office said along with “avoiding minimum mandatory sentences for gun crimes,” Worrell’s administration also “avoided minimum mandatory sentences for drug trafficking offenses,” “allowed juvenile offenders to avoid serious charges and incarceration altogether,” among other grounds for suspension. 

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., responded to the suspension and said Democrats’ “soft-on-crime policies are eroding our communities and families’ ability to feel safe.”

Many Florida Democrats have openly pushed for “gun reform” and spoken out against the recently passed “permitless carry” legislation.

Republican lawmakers pushed the legislation, citing the constitutional right of the 2nd Amendment.

Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, who sponsored the legislation, spoke to Florida’s Voice in May on the permitless carry law.

“You have a constitutionally upheld right to bear arms and this freed it up. For us, that’s something that I think the media largely misses,” Collins explained.

“We can’t legislate for the 1% who do crimes, we have to build legislation for the 99% of God fearing, hard working, freedom loving Americans and Floridians that do the right thing. That’s what this legislation really focuses on,” Collins said.

Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, has previously marched alongside @MomsDemand Action in March to “protest against the GOP’s dangerous permitless carry bill.”

“We will never stop fighting against senseless gun violence and for commonsense solutions that keep all of us more safe,” Eskamani said at the time.

Moms Demand Action describes themselves as a grassroots movement of Americans “fighting for public safety measures that can protect people from gun violence.”

The group is working with a goal to “pass smarter gun laws like strengthening background checks on gun sales and Red Flag laws.”

“Red flag” laws are laws allowing courts to prevent people who show signs of being a danger to themselves or to others from having access to firearms.

Moms Demand Action volunteers are “working tirelessly” to elect “gun sense candidates,” or those who “will govern with gun safety in mind.”

Eskamani released a statement in response to Worrell’s removal, and said it is “another example of his [DeSantis’] extreme anti-Democratic stances.”

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried has previously called to “do more to prevent senseless gun violence.”

Chairman of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee Erin Huntley applauded DeSantis’ decision to suspend Worrell Wednesday in a statement to Florida’s Voice.

“Public safety is top of mind in Orange County and today, we applaud the Governor’s decision to suspend State Attorney Monique Worrell and appoint Judge Andrew Bain,” Huntley said.

“Our citizens have been disappointed by this Soros-funded State Attorney, especially with the circumstances around the killing of a 9-year-old girl and TV reporter in February and with the recent shooting of 2 Orlando Police officers this past weekend,” she said.

Huntley said “as written in the preamble to the Constitution, one of the most basic functions of government is to establish justice.”

“Rest assured, Orange County, Judge Andrew Bain will restore confidence in the justice system and work alongside our brave law enforcement partners to keep Central Florida a beautiful place to live and visit,” Huntley added.