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Florida lawmakers are moving to arm the people already on campus and the Second Amendment crowd is calling it long overdue.
The Florida Legislature has passed HB 757, a bill that would allow college and university professors and staff to voluntarily carry concealed firearms on campus. The measure cleared the Senate in a 26-10 vote after passing the House 88-20.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) is giving the move a full endorsement.
CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb called the legislation a “much needed step toward improving campus security,” pointing to years of failed “gun-free zone” policies.
“This legislation expands the state’s Guardian Program to colleges and universities, and that’s a good thing,” Gottlieb said. “We’ve tried so-called ‘gun-free zone’ campuses and it’s been a failure… It’s time to think out of that restrictive box and try a different approach.”
That “different approach” centers on trained, volunteer faculty and staff (people already on campus) who can respond immediately if something goes wrong.
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And that’s really the heart of the argument.
Because when seconds count, campus police (if they’re even nearby) are still minutes away.
Gottlieb didn’t hold back on critics either, taking aim at what he described as years of ineffective policy pushed by anti-gun lawmakers and academics.
“For years, we’ve watched the hand-wringing and head-shaking over attacks on college campuses,” he said. “All that accomplished was to fool the public into believing some action had been taken while the body counts climbed.”
Under HB 757, participation wouldn’t be mandatory. Faculty and staff would have to volunteer and undergo training, adding what supporters call another layer of defense. Not replacing existing security, but reinforcing it.
Gottlieb framed it as a shift away from what he sees as unrealistic policies.
“We can no longer afford to entertain the anti-gun sympathies of ivory tower ideologues,” he said. “Colleges and universities are not immune from violent crime.”
That last point is hard to ignore.
Recent campus incidents across the country, including high-profile shootings, have reignited debate over whether “gun-free zones” actually deter violence… or simply leave soft targets.
Florida lawmakers are betting on the latter.
Now the question is whether other states follow suit or double down on restrictions.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
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