Florida senate panel rejects bill allowing guns on college campuses – The Times of India

The Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice has rejected a proposal to allow guns on college campuses. The committee voted 4-3 against SB 814, which aimed to permit lawful gun owners to carry firearms on university grounds, including dormitories and residence halls, as reported by Florida Politics.
Brevard Republican Senator Randy Fine argued that college students should have the right to protect themselves in emergencies. He justified the proposal by citing threats faced by Jewish students following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, warning of what he called “on-campus Muslim terror,” as reported by Florida Politics.
However, on Tuesday, the 4-3 decision temporarily halted the bill’s progress. Fine insisted that students should be able to move freely on campus, defend themselves if trapped in a building, and take action when surrounded or attacked by a mob—an issue he claimed had occurred at his alma mater, as reported by Florida Politics.
SB 814 had already lost its House counterpart, HB 31, earlier this year when Republican sponsor Joel Rudman, a former Navarre Representative, withdrew the proposal after an unsuccessful congressional bid.
The vote followed support for Fine’s measure from the NRA and Florida Smart Justice. However, around a dozen students, some wearing keffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians, voiced opposition, as reported by Florida Politics.
The rejection of SB 814 has intensified debates on gun control, campus safety, and the rights of students. While supporters argue that the bill would empower students to defend themselves, critics warn of increased risks in an already volatile campus environment. As tensions rise, lawmakers may revisit similar measures in the future, making campus gun laws a contentious issue in Florida’s legislative agenda.