Bill would allow guns to be carried openly at Florida universities

TAMPA, Fla. - A new bill in Florida would allow for the open-carry of firearms in the state, including on the campuses of Florida’s universities.

Sen. Greg Evers (R-Crestview) introduced the legislation, SB 234, which is currently in committee.

If passed, the bill would allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to also carry a firearm visible to the public. Florida is one of seven states in the country that currently does not allow a person to do that.

The legislation would also allow people to openly carry a firearm on campus at a Florida university. Under current law, they are not allowed to do that.

Even if the bill passes, people will still not be allowed to carry a gun into a police station, jail, courtroom, government building, professional sporting event, or public school.

A group of university police chiefs, including Chief Thomas Longo from the University of South Florida, have written a letter to the Florida Legislature asking them to not change the law. They believe open carry would make their campuses more dangerous.

Dawn Sanchez, spokeswoman for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, also does not want the law enacted. She believes open carry in Florida would lead to more violence, an increase in fear and negatively impact tourism.

“It’s just not a good idea to go back to the ‘Wild Wild West,’” Sanchez said. “To me, it’s ridiculous. It’s irresponsible. We’re going backwards.”

Robb Allen, though, disagrees. He is a board member for FloridaCarry.org and supports open carry. He believes allowing people to carry weapons openly in Florida would not lead to more violence, and would also give gun owners the freedom outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

“The second amendment gives us the right to keep and bear arms. And, in a free society, men and women get to choose how they wish to bear them,” Allen said.

You can read the full text of the bill here .