'Heroes' bill starts moving in House

(FreeImages.com/Karen Barefoot)

A proposal that would make it a third-degree felony for defacing a statue or memorial that represents a Continental or U.S. Army soldier, a NASA astronaut or a first responder got its first vote of support Wednesday in the House.

The Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted unanimously on a proposal (HB 529) called the "Soldiers' and Heroes' Monuments and Memorials Protection Act."

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The bill is filed for the legislative session that starts March 7.

"My ask is that we memorialize in statute, in giving a little more deference to those that made that sacrifice than we do a public telephone,” sponsor Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, said, noting that state law already makes it third-degree felony to damage a church, public telephone or sexually violent-predator facility.

The bill defines a hero as a military figure, unit or organization that served one of the 13 original colonies, the U.S. military or a territory that became part of the U.S., as well as a law enforcement officer, firefighter or NASA astronaut.

A measure (SB 418) similar to Drake's bill has been filed in the Senate by Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota.

The Senate measure has yet to be heard by a committee.