Former Congressman and current Florida gubernatorial hopeful David Jolly is under fire after making a series of incendiary comments about firearms, gun culture, and the Second Amendment. During recent national TV appearances, Jolly stated, “We have to crush the culture of guns in the United States,” and went even further by adding, “Maybe I don’t [agree with the Second Amendment]. I don’t care.” Those remarks ignited backlash from multiple corners of Florida’s conservative and gun-owning communities, prompting Republicans to call his campaign a direct threat to constitutional freedoms.
The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), in a July 28 press release, didn’t mince words. Chairman Evan Power said, “David Jolly’s agenda is a direct attack on the Constitution… Florida rejects gun control, rejects socialism, and rejects Jolly.” He accused Jolly of attempting to shred the Second Amendment and framed his campaign as part of a broader war on civil liberties.
Byron Donalds Hits Back With a Bold Ad
Congressman Byron Donalds, a staunch conservative and Trump-endorsed candidate for Florida governor, wasted no time responding. As reported by Florida’s Voice journalist Michelle Vecerina, the Donalds campaign released a 60-second political ad that featured Jolly’s own words on gun control, labeling them as “radical anti-gun.”
The ad includes clips of Jolly saying, “The ability of anybody to buy a gun is absolutely foolish,” and questioning the public’s understanding of the Second Amendment. Donalds’ team used the footage to highlight Jolly’s willingness to “dramatically change gun culture” and even “take on the Second Amendment.”
Donalds’ chief strategist Ryan Smith said, “David Jolly wants to abolish the Second Amendment and trample on Floridians’ fundamental rights and freedoms.” Smith emphasized that Donalds “has never bowed to the gun control lobby, and he never will.”
RPOF: “Jolly Is Just a Knockoff Charlie Crist”
Chairman Evan Power doubled down in the RPOF’s official statement, mocking Jolly as “Temu Charlie” – a cheaper knockoff version of former Democrat Charlie Crist. Power slammed Jolly for switching parties and abandoning conservative values. He painted Jolly as a puppet for MSNBC-style progressivism and claimed his views are radically out of step with Floridian values.
“Jolly, a failed congressman turned MSNBC talking head, delusionally thinks he can be Florida’s next governor,” Power said. “He wants mass gun control, leaving law-abiding Floridians defenseless.”
Power also emphasized Florida’s Republican dominance, noting a 1.3 million voter registration lead. “Our grassroots army is fired up, mobilized, and ready to Keep Florida Red,” he said.
Colion Noir: “This Isn’t Reform – It’s Tyranny”
Gun rights activist and YouTuber Colion Noir released a blistering 6-minute takedown of Jolly’s statements in a video titled FL Gov Candidate Says We Need to Crush the Second Amendment. Noir accused Jolly of openly calling for cultural destruction, not reform. “He didn’t say improve. He said crush,” Noir said. “Imagine saying we need to crush the culture of freedom of speech. You’d be run out of town.”
Noir challenged Jolly’s implication that firearm ownership is foolish. “You peasants don’t deserve the right to protect yourself unless daddy government says so,” he mocked. He also pointed out the historical abuses of government power – internment camps, Jim Crow laws, and botched ATF raids – as reasons citizens must retain the right to bear arms.
“Maybe I Don’t Agree With the Second Amendment”
Jolly’s exact quote, “Maybe I don’t [agree with the Second Amendment]. I don’t care”, has become a rallying cry for his critics. According to Florida’s Voice, the Donalds campaign used the quote as a centerpiece in their ad, arguing it reveals Jolly’s contempt for constitutional rights. Noir compared Jolly’s attitude to a pilot telling passengers he “might” know how to fly a plane, saying, “What are you, 12? Are you running for governor or auditioning for a TikTok skit titled ‘Indecisive Dictator’?”
Noir’s tone was biting, but his message was clear: anyone who casually dismisses the Constitution is unfit for public office. “The Constitution isn’t a permission slip,” Noir said. “It is a restraint on government – on you, David.”
Gun Culture: What Jolly Gets Wrong
Colion Noir also challenged Jolly’s understanding of what “gun culture” actually is. “Is it the single mom in a rough neighborhood who sleeps with a 9mm by her bedside?” he asked. “Or the person who bought a firearm after watching their city burn in 2020?”
Noir rejected the idea that gun culture is a threat. Instead, he argued that politicians like Jolly, who want to disarm citizens, are the real danger. “Gun culture isn’t the problem. You are,” Noir said directly. “The Second Amendment isn’t about Walmart or deer hunting. It’s about a check on power.”
Why Jolly’s Words Matter
This isn’t a typical campaign trail gaffe. Jolly’s comments are not vague or taken out of context. He has repeatedly made them on national television, and they represent a core part of his platform. In a pro-gun state like Florida, that’s political suicide – but also deeply revealing.
A man running for governor of Florida said out loud that he’s willing to crush a constitutional amendment and didn’t care whether he agrees with it. That’s not just an opinion. That’s a declaration of war on constitutional government.
Democrats Double Down, But Floridians Push Back
So far, there’s been little sign that Florida Democrats plan to distance themselves from Jolly’s rhetoric. But Republican leaders have made it clear they’re drawing a hard line. Chairman Evan Power noted that Jolly’s views mirror the failed national policies that have hurt the Democrat brand in Florida. “This is why we’re winning,” Power said. “Floridians aren’t buying what they’re selling anymore.”
Donalds’ team is betting that their strong stance on Second Amendment rights will win over independents and working-class voters – many of whom have become first-time gun owners in recent years.
Political Shift: Guns Becoming a Litmus Test
Gun rights are no longer just a rural or conservative issue. The post-2020 surge in first-time firearm purchases has included minorities, suburban moms, and even lifelong Democrats. Jolly’s hardline rhetoric may energize some progressives, but it risks alienating a growing segment of Floridians who see gun ownership as common sense, not radical extremism.
As Colion Noir pointed out, “We’re not crushing gun culture. We’re expanding it.” That sentiment seems to reflect the state’s trend – more concealed carry permits, more home defense purchases, and more pushback against federal and state-level overreach.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Race Matters
Florida has become a bellwether state for gun policy battles. From constitutional carry to sanctuary county declarations, the state has taken a clear pro-2A stance. If David Jolly were to somehow win the governorship, it would set off a political earthquake – not just in Florida, but nationwide.
That’s why this race matters. Jolly isn’t just running for office. He’s running with an agenda that openly defies the Constitution. And as Colion Noir warned, “It’s always the people trying to gain positions of power who have the biggest issue with the Second Amendment. Hm. I wonder why that is… tyranny.”
“We Are the Militia”
Noir ended his video with a message that struck a deep chord: “You are the militia. I am the militia. We are the militia.” That’s not just merchandise branding – it’s a reminder that rights don’t exist in theory. They exist because people stand up for them.
Whether you’re a gun owner or not, David Jolly’s comments should concern every American. Because any politician who shrugs at one constitutional amendment today might shred another tomorrow. And the Second Amendment exists to make sure they don’t.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.
