Ron DeSantis plans own Florida state militia

Ron DeSantis says the military unit would respond to natural disasters and “other state emergencies” in Florida
Ron DeSantis says the military unit would respond to natural disasters and “other state emergencies” in Florida
CHRIS O’MEARA/AP

Florida’s Republican governor has announced plans to establish a state militia consisting of trained civilians “unencumbered by the federal government”.

Ron DeSantis said the Florida State Guard, which would answer solely to him, would be a 200-strong civilian-based military unit to support emergency response efforts in the event of natural disasters and unspecified “other state emergencies”.

He requested $3.5 million from the state budget to recruit, train and equip members as part of a military budget proposal.

Florida established a State Guard in 1941 to plug the gap left by members of the National Guard — which falls under both state and federal control — who were deployed during the Second World War. It was disbanded in 1947.

Re-establishing it now, DeSantis said, would “allow