TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida state senator introduced a bill on Tuesday that, if passed, would allow people to carry firearms on college and university campuses.
Florida State Sen. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, introduced Senate Bill 814, which would extend concealed carry rights on the property of any college or university.
“It simply extends the right that people off campus to on campus. Right now, your right to carry concealed is excluded on campus. This simply removes that exclusion,” Fine told News4JAX on Friday.
Press play below to watch the full interview with Fine
If approved, the Department of Law Enforcement would authorize a college or university to designate a campus facility or area as a “sensitive” location that does not allow concealed weapons or firearms while hosting or sponsoring a sporting or athletic event. The bill would also require the college or university to submit a security plan to FDLE to receive that authorization.
“I’ve never been a fan of gun-free zones, they don’t work and they create this false sense of security as though there is some magical force field that protects them,” Fine said.
Fine, said he was also inspired by the protest he saw on college campuses around the country last fall for the conflict between Israel and Hamas. He believes students were not properly protected and should be able to protect themselves.
“That’s the problem of gun-free zones. It’s a delusion of the left. It’s a delusion. They speak about it, they say there are no guns on college campuses and thats simply not true. There is not a force field around the university. There are guns in classrooms right now. There are guns in dorms right now. Those guns are being carried by people who don’t think they have to follow the law,” Fine said.
But some students see the idea of a gun on campus differently.
“I think it would be a bad idea, I don’t really see a reason. I’ve never felt unsafe at school,” Emily Christovich, a UNF student, said.
Noah Hinds, also a UNF student, agreed with Christovich.
“I don’t think you need a gun on campus for any sort of reason, you have police. Like you have a whole police department. You don’t need a gun to protect yourself and that only thing I can think you need a gun for, for any other reason, that’s just going to cause hostility and we are going to be terrified,” Hinds said. “So no, I think that’s not a good idea. People have their rights but it should stay off school for sure.”
On the University of North Florida campus, guns are allowed if they remain in the car. However, people can not walk around campus with a gun or bring it into the dorms.
Read UNF’s full policy on the possession of weapons and destructive devices below:
4.0: It is prohibited for any person covered by this Code to possess a firearm, electric weapon or device, destructive device, or other weapon including a razor blade, box cutter, dirk, knife (other than a common pocketknife, plastic knife, or blunt-bladed table knife), metallic knuckles, slungshot, billie, tear gas gun, chemical weapon or device, or other deadly weapon on University property, University-controlled property or at University-sponsored events. The only exceptions to this prohibition are:
A sworn law enforcement officer may carry a weapon on University property, University-controlled property or to University sanctioned events;
Students may carry lawful self-defense chemical spray which is compact in nature, containing no more than two ounces of chemical, designed to be carried on or about the person solely for purposes of self-defense;
A person 18 years of age or older may maintain a firearm or other weapon for self-defense or other lawful purpose within the interior of a private vehicle, without a license, if the firearm or other weapon is securely encased or is otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Additionally, nothing in this section prohibits the carrying of a legal firearm other than a handgun anywhere in a private conveyance when such firearm is being carried for a lawful use. This exception shall not be construed to authorize the carrying of a concealed firearm or other weapon on a person or outside of a vehicle on University property, University-controlled property or at University-sponsored events.
Possessing and using a razor blade and/or a box cutter for lawful and intended purposes is permitted. Specifically, razor blades may be possessed and used for personal hygiene and a box cutter may be possessed and used as a tool for University-sanctioned or University-sponsored events.
(1) Pursuant to Florida Statute 790.06, it is not a violation of the Code of Conduct for a registered student to possess a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes so long as the weapon does not dire a dart or projectile.
Fine said he doesn’t know if he can get this bill passed before he goes to Congress but believes it’s the right thing to do. Senator Fine is about to be on the ballot for a special election on April 1st.
– to fill the northeast Florida congressional seat vacated by Michael Waltz.
“People agree, they are excited about the idea. Gun-free zones don’t work,” Fine said.
If the law passes, it would take effect in July 2025 on UNF’s campus.
