In the sunny state of Florida, a sheriff recently held a press conference that had everyone buzzing like a bee in a flower garden—though, in this case, the flowers were bricks, and the bees were standing on alert. This press conference wasn’t what you might call standard fare; instead of the usual “We’re grateful for our community,” the sheriff decided to go all Chuck Norris on protesting mobs. If anyone thought that gathering around a car in Brevard County would just lead to a friendly Q&A session, they might want to think again. This sheriff is passing out warnings like they’re candy on Halloween, and his message is crystal clear: If you try to box someone in with your rage, you’re likely going to end up as a pancake on the pavement.

Now, one might say this is an overreaction, but let’s take a step back and evaluate the scene. In a world where protests are often stirred by the winds of political change—sometimes leading to rather stormy weathers—he makes it clear that his deputies are not going to be soft targets. If a mob decides to throw a brick, well, it wouldn’t be long before they learned that hard objects can lead to hard consequences. And by hard, I mean possibly graveyard dead. But, as the sheriff pointed out, he’s okay with peaceful protests—just leave the bricks at home, folks. Sounds reasonable, right?

But all jokes aside, the sheriff’s tough talk has drawn some eye rolls and gasps across the internet. Supporters are nodding wisely while opponents clutch their pearls, declaring the sheriff a law-and-order overlord. If you ask anyone, though, he’s more like a guy at a BBQ who forgot to marinate the ribs and just decides to tell the guests, “If you even think about criticizing my grilling skills, you’re getting tossed in the pool.” It’s blunt, it’s a little humorous, and it has an underlying truth that many tend to overlook when emotions get as spicy as summer BBQ sauce.

The sheriff’s approach does raise some important questions about law enforcement’s response to protests in a time when tensions are high. Some people might argue he’s pushing for unnecessary violence, while others view his statements as a much-needed breath of commonsense air. After all, many would say they’re tired of seeing officers tied down by rules that seem to more favor the protests than the law. And let’s not forget, his warnings are meant for those who cross the line into violence. It seems to be a little homegrown wisdom—that if you poke the bear, you might just get your hand bitten off instead of a gentle roar.

Amid all this, it seems that the legal eagles are scrambling to determine if such a stance falls within jurisdictional norms. Meanwhile, on social media, reactions fly faster than popcorn in a hot microwave. Some see it as a badge of honor for Floridians to be safely protected, while others warn that it could open the floodgates to excessive force. But, really, people should consider whether they want to take a stand on social justice in a way that might end with them bruised, battered, or beat up—leaving their families to collect the remnants. As the phrase goes—if you’re going to play with fire, you’d better be ready for the heat. And in Florida, that heat’s got a badge and a bit of a bite.