Rep. Webster Barnaby: Stop identifying Americans by color

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Rep. Webster Barnaby, R-Deltona, decried identifying Americans on the basis of skin color and said he’s tired of “victimhood nonsense.”

“I’m a proud American. This does not affect people of color,” he said while holding up a pocket U.S. Constitution.

“We all have a color. I have a color, you have a color. Stop this nonsense about Black American and Hispanic American – we’re all Americans,” he continued. “When you live here, when you take the pledge that I did March the 5th, 1998, I became an American, period.”

“I’m tired of this victimhood nonsense that people come and parade before us, and they pull out the violin and everybody’s got to be so sympathetic because of your tears. I did it the right way – I waited, and I didn’t gripe, I didn’t burn the flag,” he said.

“I love America. God bless the United States of America. I’m proud to be an American.”

Barnaby represents District 29 in the Florida House of Representatives.

He was born in Birmingham, England. He moved to Florida in 1991 before becoming a citizen.

The representative won re-election in 2022, defeating Democrat Rick Karl 59.5% to 40.5%.

Barnaby is a sponsor of the legislature’s permitless carry proposal – also referred to as “constitutional carry” – that would allow individuals to carry a concealed weapon or firearm without having a concealed carry permit.

It requires the person carrying a concealed weapon to carry identification in case law enforcement requests it.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he will sign permitless carry for months. After the Republican landslide in 2022, Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, quickly said the newfound supermajority would get it to the governor’s desk.