Florida

Florida Rep. Files Bill to Allow Legal Carrying of Handguns on College Campuses

What to Know

  • Gun rights activists have been pursuing similar measures in other states that would allow those with concealed weapons licenses to carry.

A bill that would allow for the open carrying of handguns on Florida’s college and university campuses has been filed yet again to be considered in the upcoming legislative session.

The ‘Campus Carry’ proposal was filed by Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who represent a district from the Orlando area. NBC affiliate WPTV reports that Sabatini had proposed a similar measure in the 2019 session but it was not heard in either chamber of the state’s Legislature.

While gun rights activists have been pursuing similar measures in other states that would allow those with concealed weapons licenses to carry their weapons on campus, leaders of such academic institutions – including John Thrasher, the former Republican representative and senator who served as Speaker of the House and is now the president of Florida State University – have opposed the measure.

As of July, more than two million people in Florida have such licenses.

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