24-04-2025
FSU students march from campus to the Capitol, demanding action
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Less than a week ago, Florida State University turned into a crime scene. Since then, FSU students, advocates, and members of the community have held several rallies to call on state leaders, demanding them to take action before the current session wraps up.
Florida State students, who lived through the frightened moments of the shooting, marched to the capitol to plead with state lawmakers.
Thursday's shooting killed two men and injured six others, just one mile away from the statehouse.
'A 20-year-old with a gun was devastating my school and I watched from inside the very building where lawmakers have been debating a bill to lower the age to buy a gun back down to 18,' said Samantha Mason, Students Demand Action.
That bill, House Bill 759, passed off of the house floor a month ago before the shooting at Florida State. However, its Senate companion bill, SB 920, sponsored by Hillsborough County lawmaker, Jay Collins, seems to be stalled.
'Look at our faces, listen to our stories, and know that we are not going anywhere. You have the power to help us. We're not asking for miracles. We're demanding common sense gun safety laws that save lives,' said Stephanie Horowitz, FSU Student.
Horowitz was a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas when a 19-year-old killed 17 people and wounded 17 others.
'Four of my friends died that day and I have been visiting their graves since, for the last seven years,' said Horowitz.
Horowitz was teaching a class last week at FSU when the suspected shooter Phoenix Ikner made his way to the student union. Now, she is begging lawmakers to prioritize students over guns.
Inside the statehouse on Wednesday, Senate members gathered for a session, and while there were no talks of gun legislation, there was a moment of silence for the lives lost and those impacted.
'Last Thursday my FSU family…was rocked by reckless violence on our campus with six students being shot and 2 adults being killed,' said State Senator Corey Simon, (R-Tallahassee). 'Today I rise and ask for a moment of silence for my Seminole family as we mourn those lost and the many lives that have been changed forever.'
House Democrats are calling out their Republican colleagues, saying the Republican majority can waive the rules at any time and allow any bill at this point to be heard.
Senate President Ben Albritton, House Speaker Daniel Perez, and Governor Ron DeSantis did not publicly address FSU students' concerns about gun violence on Wednesday.
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