Pending legislation in Florida for Concealed Carry on College Campuses
Florida Carry Action Alert
In light of the recent FSU shootings and sexual attacks at UF, Rep. Greg Steube and Sen. Greg Evers have filed companion campus carry bills.
Frankly, we have had enough. Recently, a deranged former student entered the Strozier Library on the campus of Florida State University and opened fire. Thankfully there were no fatalities however one student was left permanently paralyzed and a member of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus was shot in the leg; another student was grazed by a bullet, a fourth was saved by a book that stopped the bullet meant for him, and the fifth student was narrowly missed by a round that hit the student’s bicycle.
What has not been generally reported is that a combat veteran had an opportunity to immediately stop the shooter. The veteran, who wishes to avoid publicity, served two tours in Afghanistan as an Army Infantryman and qualified expert in rifle and pistol earlier this year. He had a clear shot at the attacker, but because of the prohibition on campus carry, was not allowed to carry on campus.
Of course, that law didn’t stop the shooter.
Recognizing that “gun-free zones” only disarm those who would obey the law, Rep. Steube and Sen. Evers have sponsored companion bills to remove college campuses from the prohibited places list for Concealed Carry Licensees.
In an attempt at fear-mongering, opponents raise the spectre of drunk children flailing guns about carelessly and law enforcement being inept at determining who is the bad guy and who isn’t. Of course, this is pure propaganda being fed to the ignorant.
Except for trained current military and honorably discharged veterans, a licensee must be 21 years of age, all (even military) must also undergo state and federal background checks, provide proof of firearm safety training, and pay a licensing tax.
These are the very same adults who can legally carry practically anywhere else in the state. Statistically, they are the most law-abiding demographic that data is available for, even more so than law enforcement officers. Department of Agriculture statistics show that of the over 2.3 million licenses issued since 1987, only 168 have been revoked for a crime involving a firearm. That comes out to about 0.006%.
College campuses are no stranger to violent crime. This year UF suffered a string of attempted sexual assaults, the attacker has not been found. USDOE statistics tell us that year after year our defenseless students become victims of violent crime 5 days a week on average on Florida college or university campuses.
Florida Carry will do everything within our power to protect and expand the right of self-defense. College Campuses are no strangers to violent crime, Campus Carry is needed now.
Please help pass Florida House Bill 4005 and Senate Bill 176 by calling, emailing, and/or writing your senator or representative and expressing your support for self-defense on campus. Too many lives have been lost because of the illusion of safety and security associated with “gun-free zones”.