There has long been a legislative push to force state colleges to allow concealed weapons on Florida campuses, but the most recent shooting at a community college in Roseburg, Oregon has brought the issue back to the forefront.
A new bill is making its way through the Florida House of Representatives that would do just that — allow students, or anyone over the age of 21, to carry a concealed weapon with the proper permit.
Representative Greg Steube (R) is the creator of the bill that has garnered primarily Republican support. After a lone shooter gunned down 10 people and injured 7 more at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Steube told WTSP in Tampa Bay that such a bill could prevent a similar incident from happening in Florida.
“Had someone been there with a concealed weapons permit they probably could have stopped this atrocity from happening or at least have a fighting chance,” Steube told the station.
As with anyone who receives a concealed carry permit, the individual would need to undergo thorough background checks and could not have a history of mental illness or drug abuse.
The bill is currently sitting with a subcommittee in the Florida Senate, but is expected to receive some opposition from Democrats.
The main argument being that it would simply put more weapons on campuses.
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Education is reportedly looking into arming security guards and providing state funded training for active shooting situations.
Even after a shooting at the Florida State University campus, a similar bill still failed to pass in the House.