Florida Lawmakers Surrender to Gun Lobby, Passing Dangerous “Campus Carry” Legislation Less than a Year After Deadly Mass Shooting on FSU’s Campus

TALLAHASSEE, F.L. - The Florida chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety's grassroots network, issued the following statements after Florida House lawmakers yesterday voted to pass HB 757, a dangerous bill that would flood college campuses with firearms by expanding the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program to public colleges and universities.

"Veterans like myself know that being in the line of defense isn't just about carrying our weapons and equipment. It requires an immense level of constant situational awareness, continuous specialized training, and a psychological burden that civilian educators did not volunteer for and should not have to carry," said Tom Hixon, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, gun violence survivor, and a member of the Everytown Veteran Advisory Council. Tom's father, Chris Hixon, was shot and killed in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. "My father channeled his 27 years of military training that day and gave his life to protect students, kids he saw as his own, but he shouldn't have had to. By forcing more guns onto campuses without accounting for the additional psychological, physical, and financial burdens this program entails, Florida lawmakers are shifting the state's responsibility for safety onto the shoulders of educators and students, opening up the very real possibility of further endangering themselves and law enforcement. We know that more guns don't automatically make us safer without extensive training, safety, and accountability. Lawmakers should be focusing on passing proven, effective school and gun safety measures."

"First, the Senate Appropriations Committee moved to flood our campuses with more guns, and now the House has doubled down by passing this dangerous bill," said Isaiah Sloan, a volunteer with the University of Florida chapter of Students Demand Action. "We have been incredibly vocal, students and professors alike, that we do not want guns on our campuses, especially after the deadly shooting at FSU. Period. It is offensive that lawmakers are claiming to protect us with a bill that we have repeatedly told them makes us feel less safe. They are refusing to listen to the people whose lives are actually on the line. Our lawmakers are treating our lives like an afterthought and our campuses like a political playground. Shame on you."

"Florida's leadership has officially chosen the gun lobby's agenda over the lives of the students and campus staff they were elected to protect," said Jennifer Massey, a volunteer with the Florida chapter of Moms Demand Action. "Instead of passing secure storage laws to prevent shootings, these lawmakers would rather flood college campuses with guns. They have already tried to lower the purchase age for firearms, showing a blatant disregard for the safety of young people. This bill is a dangerous escalation that will lead to more unintentional discharges and increased liability for our schools while doing nothing to actually address the root causes of gun violence."

Despite a tragic shooting at Florida State University last April, lawmakers chose to ignore the pleas of students and faculty, instead advancing an agenda that effectively ends gun-free zones in higher education. This move marks a full-scale retreat from the bipartisan safety progress made after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, further endangering a generation already traumatized by gun violence.

Research shows there is no evidence that arming teachers and staff deters gun violence or reduces the lethality of shootings when they occur. Furthermore, the Guardian program requires far less training than law enforcement-144 hours compared to 770. Expecting personnel with such limited training to perform law enforcement duties is dangerous and unrealistic.

Even more concerning, the Guardian program has not been without controversy. Florida's Department of Education has received roughly 100 reports involving Guardians since 2020, typically filed when a safe-school officer, including Guardians, is disciplined or has fired a weapon outside of training. Because these reports remain confidential, questions remain about the nature and severity of the infractions.

By ignoring the risks and the opposition from students, faculty, and academic institutions across the country, Florida lawmakers have once again prioritized a political agenda over the demonstrated safety and well-being of the academic community.

In an average year, 3,172 people die by guns in Florida. With a rate of 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people, Florida has the 34th-highest rate of gun deaths in the US. Guns are the second leading cause of death among children and teens in Florida. Gun violence costs the state $40.3 billion each year, of which $875.9 million is paid by taxpayers. More information on gun violence in Florida is available here.