Efforts to enhance on-campus safety in Florida universities are moving forward as the House Education & Employment Committee has unanimously approved a proposal aimed at arming select college staff. This initiative, known as House Bill 757, follows a tragic shooting at Florida State University (FSU) during the 2025 legislative session, where a student killed two people and injured five others.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Michelle Salzman, R-Pensacola, seeks to build upon measures previously implemented in the K-12 education system after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. According to Salzman, the bill was shaped by feedback from students, parents, and university faculty. She stated, “This bill creates a prevention and a response mechanism unlike any other. This will be the beacon for the nation.”
The urgency of this legislation is underscored by the recent shooting at FSU, where Salzman was enrolled in a master’s degree program. She recounted the fear and helplessness experienced during the incident as classmates shared live updates from the scene. “It was a very hard moment for a lot of us. We felt very helpless sitting here in the Capitol,” she said.
While many lawmakers support the proposal, it faces opposition from some members of the academic community. Emily Stewart, an assistant professor of geology at FSU, expressed concerns about the potential dangers of introducing armed civilians into volatile situations. She recounted her experience during the shooting, detailing the chaos as law enforcement officers, believing there might be a second shooter, pointed their guns at her. Stewart raised a critical question: “What if I had stepped into the hallway holding a weapon because I wanted to protect my students?”
The bill proposes that university presidents may designate certain employees and faculty members to undergo training and obtain a concealed weapons license, enabling them to carry firearms on campus. Additionally, the legislation includes several provisions aimed at improving campus safety. These include:
– Promoting the use of the mobile suspicious activity reporting tool, FortifyFL.
– Mandating the transfer of student behavior records, such as threat assessments and psychological evaluations, from K-12 institutions to state colleges and universities.
– Defining it as a second-degree felony for individuals to discharge firearms within 1,000 feet of a school during school hours, unless in lawful self-defense.
– Requiring schools to implement active assailant response plans and provide training for faculty and staff on mental health issues.
The proposal is set to advance to the Budget Committee before potentially reaching the House floor. A similar initiative, Senate Bill 896, has yet to be reviewed by a committee.
Supporters of the measure, like Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, emphasized the need for ongoing improvements in school safety. Rizo remarked, “School safety is an ongoing moving target. It’s something that we always strive to perfect, get better, and unfortunately, we learn from our mistakes and we have to keep going.”
The discussions surrounding this legislation reflect a broader national conversation about safety in educational institutions, as lawmakers and communities grapple with the implications of armed staff on campus. As the proposal continues its legislative journey, it raises critical questions about the balance between security and the well-being of students and faculty members.
