On April 17, a gunman killed two people and wounded six others near the Florida State University student union, an event that has intensified discussions around gun policy and campus safety in Florida. The shooter, a 20-year-old FSU student, began firing a handgun near the student union, moving through green spaces and buildings until law enforcement intervened and apprehended him after he refused to comply with their directives.
President Donald Trump, residing in Palm Beach, Florida, responded to the tragedy, describing the shooting as “a shame” and “a horrible thing,” noting, “Things like this take place. And we’ll have more to say about it later.” Trump affirmed his commitment to the Second Amendment, stating, “Look, I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it, and these things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting. The people do. It’s a phrase that’s used probably too often.” He continued, “I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, … and I will always protect the Second Amendment.”
The shooting incident coincides with an ongoing debate over campus carry laws in Florida. Recently, the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee narrowly voted down a bill (SB 814) that sought to allow concealed carry of firearms on college campuses. The bill, introduced by Republican Sen. Randy Fine, failed with a 4-3 vote as Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia joined Democrats in opposition. Sen. Garcia defended her vote, remarking, “I have zero regret. … This decision wasn’t about partisan politics; it was rooted in common sense. The incident at FSU was tragic, but the real issue lies not with the firearm itself but with the factors that led to it.”
The failure of the bill is significant given the Republican majority in the state legislature. Florida’s existing gun control laws include a ban on concealed carry and open carry on college campuses, a minimum purchase age of 21 for firearms, a three-day waiting period for most purchases, and a “red flag” law permitting temporary seizure of firearms from individuals identified as threats. Despite these regulations, the FSU shooter was able to obtain firearms and commit the attack.
The divergence among Republican lawmakers over gun policies is evident, and this latest incident raises concerns about the efficacy of current gun laws, as they did not prevent the assailant’s actions. As the investigation into the shooting progresses, discussions on how to secure campuses in Florida and nationwide are likely to escalate.
