Ron DeSantis Slams Target and Walmarts for Their Soft ‘Woke’ Approach to Retail Theft

Most recently, the governor has slammed businesses such as Target, Walmart, and CVS for locking up many of their products. DeSantis says corporations like these are becoming far too “woke,” which, in his opinion, is quite the insult.

However, more recently, some stores have taken to locking up inexpensive and completely innocent products like shampoo, lotion, and toothpaste. This means shoppers have to ask for employee assistance to gain access to more items than ever before. 

It’s important to understand that DeSantis is arguing that average Americans shouldn’t have to ask to access toothpaste while shopping. He believes that it is the responsibility of state governments and the stores themselves to better enforce retail theft. 

In fact, Walmart estimates that they lost nearly $3 billion last year to theft, and Target wasn’t far behind with a $1 billion loss. Overall, American companies collectively forfeit a whopping $112 billion in just one year of profits thanks to petty and organized theft. 

Cornell said, “During the first five months of this year, our stores saw a 120% increase in theft incidents involving violence or threats of violence.”

Even though it may seem like an inconvenience, the leaders of these corporations simply don’t know what else to do. However, DeSantis argues that millions of Americans shouldn’t have to suffer the consequences of a few criminals. Instead, these stores need to crack down on crime. 

And the governor isn’t just complaining, he’s actually taking action against this frustrating reality. On April 9, 2024, DeSantis passed House Bill 549, which significantly increased the punishment for retail theft across the Sunshine State. 

But this isn’t the first time DeSantis has spoken out against companies that he believes are leaning too far to the left. For example, when Bud Light hired a famous transgender woman as one of its spokespeople, DeSantis said the brand had “radical social ideologies” and encouraged people to boycott the popular beer.

DeSantis claimed the bill was meant to “prohibit classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels or in a specified manner” and ensure children are not oversexualized in school. However, the vast majority of Americans saw it as a way to silence and shame children for their feelings and questions regarding their orientation or gender.

DeSantis responded by saying, “If Disney wants to pick a fight, they chose the wrong guy,” and went on to cause quite the public scene against the company which is Florida’s largest single-site employer and most popular attraction.

However, there are also tens of millions of Americans who don’t agree with any of DeSantis’ opinions. In fact, many people aren’t really that bothered by having to ask a sales associate to open the doors if it means keeping themselves, other shoppers, and the store employees safe from harm.

Of course, DeSantis’ crack-down-on-crime approach is the same idea in theory with a far different tactic. But if his plan does work and retail theft in Florida decreases with the new punishments, other states may have to emulate his plan next year, whether they want to or not.