Proposed Florida law would allow guns to be carried on campus

Colleges & Universities Florida State University
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<p>I hope FSU only allows decaf coffee to be served on campus in the future if a bill proposed in the Florida legislature becomes law. The proposed law would allow students and faculty with concealed weapons permits to carry guns on campus either concealed or openly. With the bill, however, machine guns would not be allowed on campus and guns wouldn’t be legal at athletic events on campus. It seems to me allowing guns on campus would create more headaches and problems than benefits, and I can’t imagine this bill passing into law in the legislature, but anything can happen in Florida. I might have to trade my frisbee in for a Glock pistol!</p>

<p>[Senate</a> bill would allow guns on college campuses | Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Sarasota | WTSP.com 10 News](<a href=“404 Not Found | wtsp.com”>404 Not Found | wtsp.com)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.flsenate.gov/public/GetFile.cfm?File=vcEjS9GD1oxtr2LmLqSIeWMDkQY%3D|7%2FPublic%2FBills%2F0200-0299%2F0234%2F_s0234__.PDF[/url]”>http://www.flsenate.gov/public/GetFile.cfm?File=vcEjS9GD1oxtr2LmLqSIeWMDkQY%3D|7%2FPublic%2FBills%2F0200-0299%2F0234%2F_s0234__.PDF&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I wonder how many of the 27 dead Virginia Tech students would have liked to be able to defend themselves instead of being slaughtered. Or would have wanted one of their fellow students to come to their aid when some crazy started killing on campus.</p>

<p>Concealed carry gun owners should not be feared.</p>

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<p>allowing people to have guns started the virginia tech anyways. if nobody was allowed to have guns that guy wouldnt have been able to shoot anybody. i really hope that this law does not pass.</p>

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<p>Having more guns on FSU’s campus with concealed weapons carried by students and faculty would pose a risk of leading to a greater number of accidental and intentional shootings than it would in averting some of the relatively rare homicides. The 2007 Virginia Tech Review Panel Report argued that more guns on campuses, such as allowing concealed weapons, would be a public safety disaster.</p>

<p>[Virginia</a> Tech Review Panel: THE VTRP REPORT](<a href=“Virgina Tech Reviews for Diamond Rings -”>Virgina Tech Reviews for Diamond Rings -)</p>

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<p>The criminals already carry theirs… Almost every police report mentions a gun.</p>

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<p>This.</p>

<p>I would suggest the FSU Police conduct mandatory training and safety classes for any student so equipped…which would include personal civil liability.</p>

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<p>I still think passing this bill will be nothing but headaches for Florida. Governor-elect Scott said while campaigning he was for it and would push for it; combined with today’s conservative legislature passage is not impossible the bill will become law. The bill says concealed weapon permit holders may carry weapons openly, which means on the hip in a holster for everyone to see just like in the old west. About 750,000 Floridians now have gun permits, but you can’t really tell because they are worn concealed. When people start seeing others carrying guns openly in Florida, everyone is going to get one of these gun permits and millions of Floridians will be walking around publically wearing guns and Florida is going to look like the OK Corral. </p>

<p>With the new law licensed pistol toters can carry openly and on college campuses! So don’t be surprised when you see students sunbathing on FSU’s Landis Green in a bikini with a loaded Colt 45 ACP strapped on for sun protection. Maybe Landis Green could be turned into a shooting practice range?</p>

<p>Florida will become a laughingstock if this bill passes, it will hurt businesses, unsettle the general population, kill tourism–visitors will freak out seeing guns carried on street, in stores, at the beach, churches, hospitals, every other person in Wal-Mart wearing a gun, etc. Only a handfull of places are off limits for licensed gun toters like bars, police stations, jails, public elementary and high schools, courtrooms, and to me the best–legislative meetings. The same legislator pushing bill for guns everywhere doesn’t want the guns near him…so much for argument concealed weapons will deter crime!</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.flsenate.gov/public/GetFile.cfm?File=vcEjS9GD1oxtr2LmLqSIeWMDkQY%3D|7%2FPublic%2FBills%2F0200-0299%2F0234%2F_s0234__.PDF[/url]”>http://www.flsenate.gov/public/GetFile.cfm?File=vcEjS9GD1oxtr2LmLqSIeWMDkQY%3D|7%2FPublic%2FBills%2F0200-0299%2F0234%2F_s0234__.PDF&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>I agree - this bill has NRA fingerprints all over it. It will be good for the warchest of any elected official who promotes/supoprts it - bad for the rest of us.</p>

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This was also implied when Florida passed the “stand your ground law”. Seems not much negative has occurred as predicted. Should also note the law apparently requires students to be 21 and to secure firearms in vehicles.</p>

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<p>The TV story posted above isn’t accurate. The way I read bill, 18 year olds and older folks without concealed weapons permits would be allowed to keep guns in car on campus–21 yo and older with weapon permit can carry openly anywhere on campus with passage of proposed bill into law.</p>

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<p>[FSU</a> Student Shot and Killed](<a href=“http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Accidental_Shooting_Kills_FSU_Student__113160169.html]FSU”>http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Accidental_Shooting_Kills_FSU_Student__113160169.html)</p>

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<p>STATEMENT FROM THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY:
ONE STUDENT KILLED IN SHOOTING OFF CAMPUS</p>

<p>A female student at The Florida State University died early today and a male student was wounded in a shooting incident off campus.</p>

<p>At 1:16 a.m. on Jan. 9, the FSU Police Department and Tallahassee Police Department responded to 1944 Heritage Grove, a collection of properties housing fraternity students off Ocala Road, to investigate a report of an accidental shooting. Police immediately secured the area and determined there was no further threat to the campus community. They quickly identified the shooter and began an investigation.</p>

<p>According to FSU Police Chief David Perry, Evan Wilhelm, a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, was in his apartment allegedly showing friends new accessories on his rifle when it accidentally discharged, shooting a female student, Ashley Cowie, in the chest, then striking a male student, Keith Savino, in the wrist. Cowie died at the scene. Savino’s injury was not life-threatening.</p>

<p>Cowie, 21, was a sophomore from Orange Park, Fla. majoring in interior design. Savino, 21, a junior from Tampa majoring in risk management/insurance, was treated for his wound at a local hospital. Wilhelm, 21, a junior from Ponte Vedra Beach majoring in biology, was not injured.</p>

<p>Wilhelm was arrested early today and booked into the Leon County Jail. He was charged with manslaughter, a second degree felony. Police said the investigation is continuing.</p>

<p>FSU Dean of Students Jeanine Ward-Roof expressed grief at the loss on behalf of the university and said Victims Advocate services would be offered to the friends and families of the students. In addition, counseling will be made available to any student who requests it.</p>

<p>“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, and our hearts and prayers are with the students’ families at this terrible time,” Ward-Roof said. “We strive throughout the year to educate students on how to protect themselves and others, and we are heartsick when incidents such as this occur.”</p>

<p>Firearms are prohibited on public university campuses in Florida. The fraternities’ buildings at Heritage Grove are private properties, and a housing authority contracts with FSU to provide police services there.</p>

<p>University officials pledged to review the situation and to continue to urge students to be mindful of rules and crime prevention information designed to protect them and their fellow students.</p>

<hr>

<p>The student admitted to police he had been drinking early in the evening.</p>

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<p>This is the second tragic death of an FSU student in recent months possibly related to mixing booze and guns. The FSU community needs to address the problem now.</p>

<p>[FSU</a> Student Dies After Accidental Shooting UPDATE](<a href=“http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/103164089.html?storySection=comments#commentSection]FSU”>http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/103164089.html?storySection=comments#commentSection)</p>

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<p>In both instances, the guns were in places they were not allowed, and drinking was involved. For a campus of 40,000, all the education in the world does not keep 18-25 year old’s from making stupid mistakes.</p>

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<p>Mistaking chicken liver pate for chocolate pudding is a stupid mistake; what occurred this weekend was possible criminal negligence that resulted in a death and also someone now facing a manslaughter charge with possible time in prison. If it was a mistake, it was a deadly mistake.</p>

<p>I think guns are more of a problem with students at FSU than some want to admit, and I don’t think it would be inappropriate for FSU officials to try to do something about it. For example, I don’t remember FSU officials telling me in any orientation sessions what to do if I know a fellow student has a gun in a dorm room. FSU could do some simple education things about guns that could possibly save lives. </p>

<p>Guns are a problem with some students off campus too, tragically evidenced recently with the two deaths. I have a friend who kept a handgun in his campus apartment for “defense.” His apt. was burglarized this Christmas break and guess what was stolen? His gun was stolen, along with other stuff, so now a bad guy has another gun out on the streets. I don’t know all the solutions for these gun problems, but something isn’t working right.</p>

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<p>If guns are allowed on campus then I’m dropping out. Let’s be honest if your sitting in class with a gun and a gunman comes in shooting 9/10 times your going to die either out of nervousness when pulling the gun from your holster or your reaction time is too slow. I may be talking like a liberal, but the only people who walk around holding their guns are the Americans who think that they have to use their civil liberties or else they’ll be taken away. I mean for real I was watching a CNN special the other day on this and their were those crack head Tea Party members walking around with automatic weapons at an event where Barack was speaking, I mean really even if they don’t want a black guy in office at least show some respect towards the president because of the title not just the man. I can almost guarantee the number of lives saved by this concealed weapons thing with not break the hundreds mark in one decade.</p>

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<p>I am not arguing about the gravity of the situation. It is a horrible tragedy. An underage student is drinking (illegal) and has a gun in his room (illegal) the gun is in his frat house (illegal) and everyone in that room knew that they had no business in that room with that gun. He is showing off his new light/laser and points it at students (everyone who owns a gun knows you NEVER DO THAT) and he accidentally pulls the trigger and does not know it is loaded. He has killed a girl, changed the life of her twin and her family FOREVER, and ruined his own life and that of his family.</p>

<p>This is just like a kid who has been drinking and gets behind the wheel with a car full of kids. They watched him drink and knew he was impaired, but got in anyway. He hits a tree and one is killed and one is injured. Same negligence. Same result.</p>

<p>Whether it is guns or alcohol or drugs or any combination. You can educate and preach and lecture and hand out pamphlets. But it does not change the fact that people make stupid decisions that cause the death of others.</p>

<p>He is negligent and he will have to suffer the consequences. And what happened can serve as a platform for talk about gun safety. And new student orientations can have a session on it. And they can require new students to take on online gun safety class just like they do with the alcohol education. But there will still be students who make poor choices. </p>

<p>if you know a student has a gun in his dorm/frat house/campus living facility you notify your RA/the front desk or campus police or both. Just like drugs. But students don’t want to be a tattle-tale. So they don’t call.</p>

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<p>^Very similar to a car accident. Simply awful.</p>

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<p>NRA is still pushing for concealed weapon carry on college campuses.</p>

<p><a href=“Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Concealed Carry on Campus”>Capitol News Service » Blog Archive » Concealed Carry on Campus;

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<p>buzz was that at Heritage Grove some people in the frats there were moving their guns out that night after this happened because they were afraid they were going to be raided, so apparently this wasn’t an isolated gun in a frat house.</p>