Collins Critiques California Leadership After Tragic Deaths
On Thursday, Lt. Colonel Jay Collins addressed the recent deaths of three Floridians in California, expressing deep disappointment and condemning the circumstances surrounding their loss.
Collins characterized his visit to California as far from routine, stating, “I don’t want to be here today. We are here today for tragedy.” He pointed to California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of being a central figure in the issues related to illegal immigration that have impacted the state.
He specifically referenced an incident involving a man named Singh, who crossed the border illegally and obtained a commercial driver’s license in California. After a fatal crash, Singh was questioned by the Florida Highway Patrol and reportedly struggled to answer basic questions due to language barriers.
“The thugs came back here because they knew these policies would protect him,” Collins asserted, linking Singh’s actions to broader concerns about the risks associated with illegal immigration. He posed poignant questions about the continued loss of life, attributing part of the problem to ineffective policy decisions made by Newsom.
Collins’s criticism extended to Newsom’s focus on social media engagement rather than the welfare of Californians. He noted that recent posts from Newsom’s office have mirrored the informal and sometimes brash style of former President Trump, a choice Collins found troubling.
In response to Collins’s remarks, Newsom’s spokesperson, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, refuted the claims surrounding Singh and emphasized that Florida law enforcement had to rely on California state police to address the situation.
In a statement reflecting on “sanctuary” laws in California, Crofts-Pelayo remarked, “Now it is proven that California’s so-called ‘sanctuary’ laws actually work. Thank you, Ron,” in an apparent jab at Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida.
Collins, often referred to in a humorous light as the “Chuck Norris of Florida politics,” expressed that he felt out of place in California but remained resolute in his stance. “This is not politics as usual,” he noted at Stockton Airport, emphasizing his identity as a staunch advocate for freedom and traditional values.
In closing, he criticized Newsom for what he termed a lack of true leadership, arguing that effective leaders grapple with tough issues head-on, something he believes Newsom fails to do.
