TAMPA, FL— Today, Florida gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner hosted a press conference and issued a statement reaffirming his commitment to protect Florida from any attempt of foreign or extremist systems— including Sharia Law— undermining the U.S. Constitution or imposing foreign legal doctrines within the state.
“Sharia Law is antithetical to every foundational tenet of our Constitution and is not compatible with the American way of life,” Renner said. “As governor, I will protect every Floridian from the threat posed by radical Islam. Florida must draw a hard line— our laws, our Constitution, and our values are not negotiable.”
Renner emphasized his commitment to the constitution and individual liberty, rejecting any and all ideologies that would attempt to govern some communities differently or treat individuals differently under the law.
“We often say we don’t want Florida to become like New York or California,” Renner added. “That requires vigilance. Under Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s leadership, America became a social experiment, where they permitted rapid, unvetted migration from Muslim countries and also fostered resettlement policies without regard for the risk to our communities. We’ve also seen these security failures in parts of Western Europe where isolated communities operating outside the rule of law have strained public safety and social cohesion. The results have been increased crime and preventable tragedies. I will not allow that to happen on my watch.”Renner pledged to pursue a series of aggressive measures as governor including:
- Restrict immigration:
- Support a federal ban on Muslim immigration.
- Denaturalize and deport individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses, fraud against taxpayers, or other serious crimes.
- Reject any federal attempt to use Florida communities as a refugee resettlement zone.
- No parallel legal systems:
- Aggressively enforce Florida’s prohibition on Sharia Law or any other foreign legal code that conflicts with U.S. and state law.
- Strict oversight of taxpayer funding:
- End HB1 scholarship funding for schools teaching Sharia Law concepts.
- Ensure no public dollars are diverted through third party entities to the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR or other global-oriented, Muslim support groups with terrorist ties.
- Identify and restrict extremist/terrorist organizations:
- Designate the Muslim Brotherhood and organizations like the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as terrorist groups engaged in or materially supporting criminal or terrorist activity.
- Aggressively investigate and prosecute any entity with ties to terrorism.
- Prohibit “No-Go” zones:
- Oppose the development of isolated or unregulated communities that attempt to operate outside established legal and regulatory frameworks.
- Prohibit Halal Slaughterhouses:
- Enforce all state health, safety, and sanitation standards for licensed facilities without exception.
“Let me be clear,” Renner said. “This is not a position based on animosity, but on an honest assessment that the growth of Islam in our country is incompatible with the American Constitution and our way of life. I am unapologetically determined to defend the rule of law against an ideology that has threatened and killed Americans for decades. Anyone who comes to Florida must respect the U.S. Constitution and the laws of this state.”
Renner concluded with a direct message to voters:
“Florida will not become a haven for ideologies that are hostile to our constitution and way of life. We will remain a state where the Constitution is the highest authority, public safety comes first, and the rule of law is enforced.”