Our right as Americans to speak and to advocate for the things we believe in is so essential to the American experience that it is impossible to imagine our nation without it.
When someone uses their political or legal power to attempt to thwart or chill free speech, particularly political speech, it must be exposed, resisted and stopped immediately.
I am a lifelong, native Floridian. I love wild Florida and am an avid recreational fisherman. I exercise my right to free speech to support the conservation of Florida’s natural resources. On occasion, I oppose or criticize public agencies and decision makers. I have never questioned my right or ability to do so without consequence. Until now.
I read recent articles in Florida media outlets regarding the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s investigations of their critics with great sadness and profound outrage. This unethical behavior by a few reflects poorly on an agency full of people who are smart, talented and hard-working.
Investigative journalists have documented troubling examples of FWC investigators secretly accessing records of their opponents in restricted state databases. These were records of Floridians who spoke out at FWC meetings, posted critical content regarding FWC online and questioned FWC commissioners’ decisions and policies.
If you wanted effective and well-researched science to drive the decision on Florida black bear hunting, opposed Amendment 2 (the right to hunt and fish), or supported the idea that FWC is failing to protect Florida gopher tortoises from development, you may have ended up on the list.
FWC investigators repeatedly accessed these individuals’ personal driving and vehicle records and data. The targeted individual’s offense? Questioning FWC commissioners and exercising free speech.
FWC agents accessed the Florida Driver and Vehicle Information Database to investigate commissioner’s opponents. This restricted system is usually only legal to access for official criminal justice purposes. FWC investigators used the system to pull personal information, addresses, signatures and vehicle registrations.
Because of the limited access to these records to protect privacy, prevent government abuse and the need for state agents to justify and document their searches, FWC investigators frequently used a code of an active “criminal investigation” to obscure their actual intent, according to media reports.
They were not researching criminals. They were investigating average Floridians who were working to protect natural Florida with free speech.
This is another example of political influence trumping good public policy at the top of a public agency. When powerful developers and special-interest groups can’t win with science or in the marketplace of ideas, this is what they resort to.
It is yet another deeply and profoundly dismaying betrayal of public trust. When citizens can’t use constitutionally protected free speech to speak up for their community, or for wild Florida, without fear of investigation and possible reprisal, it undermines the most sacred principles of our democracy.
Scandals like this can’t be allowed to tarnish all of FWC. I have great faith and confidence in the staff and volunteers of FWC. They deserve better.
With that said, anyone at FWC, particularly commissioners, who sanctioned free speech violations and these investigations must be held accountable.
Anyone who opposes or questions decisions made by the FWC commissioners potentially could find themselves under investigation.
Sportsmen who oppose the rampant use of herbicides in Florida waterbodies. Citizens who are sick and tired of rampant growth that destroys habitat for imperiled species. Advocates who want to permanently and completely ban taking imperiled marine species out of the ocean for exhibit, forever. All you have to do is speak up in opposition to FWC commissioners and you might find yourself under investigation.
I have called for our next governor to appoint to the FWC commission individuals with strong professional or academic backgrounds in conservation science. That is not enough anymore.
If it is revealed that current FWC commissioners had knowledge of or participated in this debacle, the next governor must remove them immediately.
And the next wave of FWC commissioners who replace them must not only understand conservation science but also freedom of speech and other citizens’ rights. If citizens can’t stand up for their political beliefs, if they can’t give voice to the cause of saving all that makes Florida our home, then it is not the free state of Florida.
Joe Murphy is a native and lifelong Floridian who lives along Florida’s Nature Coast. He is a nature writer, conservation advocate and educator who previously has both worked for and volunteered with FWC.