The Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice voted 4-3 against SB 814, rejecting a proposal to allow lawful gun owners to carry firearms on college campuses, including dormitories and residence halls.
The bill sought to broaden the state’s gun regulations by allowing authorized individuals to carry concealed guns on school property. The bill’s proponents contended that permitting concealed carry on college campuses would improve individual security and give staff and students the tools they need to protect themselves in the case of an active shooter.
Last week’s 4-3 ruling temporarily halts the bill’s progress. Senate Republicans Jonathan Martin, Clay Yarborough and Joe Gruters all supported the measure with “yes” votes.
Democratic Senators Mack Bernard, Jason Pizzo and Carlos Smith, and Senator Ileana Garcia voted against the bill.
Former state Senator Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) a proponent of the bill who was elected to Congress on Tuesday, said the Second Amendment should still stand on college campuses.
“You have the right to defend yourself, and that right doesn’t go away because you walked onto a college campus,” Fine said.
He also explained that if schools were not able to protect students, he would support them being able to protect themselves.
Due to concerns about campus safety, the Florida Sheriffs Association has previously opposed similar initiatives. In previous testimony over similar measures, and several university police chiefs have said that permitting more firearms on campus might make it more difficult for officers to respond to emergencies.
Students and advocacy organizations have differing opinions about the bill’s failure. In the past, groups like Moms Demand Action and the League of Women Voters have opposed similar legislation, highlighting how crucial it is to keep schools free of weapons. However, Second Amendment advocacy organizations contend that these policies limit law-abiding residents’ ability to defend themselves.
This bill’s denial comes after earlier failed attempts in Florida to enact such measures. This ruling indicates ongoing opposition to weapons on college campuses, even though gun rights are still a hotly contested topic in the state.
It is unclear if proponents of campus carry legislation will propose a revised version of the bill or turn their attention to other aspects of gun policy change as the parliamentary session progresses. To address worries about campus violence, university administrators and student organizations are still advocating for alternate safety measures like more security guards and mental health services.
College campuses in Florida will continue to be gun-free zones for the time being as state legislators continue to debate weapon laws, weighing constitutional rights against public safety concerns.