Is the fight over? Florida bill to allow guns on campus gets shot down
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A rare rejection happened at the state capitol as a Republican-led bill was voted down by a fellow GOP lawmaker. Senate Bill 814 would have allowed concealed carry on college campuses, but it died in its first committee stop.
The bill was defeated after two Republicans failed to be in the room to vote on the matter, and while it's unclear what the final outcome would have been if they showed up to committee, it is likely the bill could be refiled in future sessions just like similar bills have been in previous years.
Florida House proposes largest sales tax cut in state history
Leading the legislation, State Senator Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) says the 2nd Amendment does not take the semester off.
'You have the right to defend yourself, and that right doesn't go away because you walked onto a college campus,' Fine said.
While those in opposition argue that it is a risky move.'What is already a high stress environment for young people on college campuses, where they're facing academic pressures; where there's mental health struggles; where there's social conflicts; where there's rampant alcohol and drug use; and abuse and sexual assault; and add firearms to the equation here,' said State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando).
Senate Bill 814 was expected to pass its first committee stop and inspired the bill sponsor to push for change after college students faced threats on campuses following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which led Democrats to understand and sympathize with the motivation behind the bill.'I am for one, completely intolerant of it. So, if there was a bill that spoke to much more funding for security, armed security for the protection of students, I would be all for it,' said State Senator Jason Pizzo (D- Sunny Isles Beach).
But after heated debate, the bill was voted down with 3 yays and 4 nays.
'If schools would not protect these children, then I would make sure that they could protect themselves,' Fine said.
'I just don't trust those kids with guns. That's where I am. But some of the behavior I've seen over the last year, I would shoot somebody if my kid was held hostage like that, I absolutely would,' Pizzo said.
News Channel 8 On Your Side reached out to the bill sponsor's team and with no further plans from Senator Fine to change the bill language or further act on the legislation, its likely to remain untouched for this session.
The House companion bill was withdrawn by former State Representative Joel Rudman, who resigned in January.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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