Скачать или смотреть Florida lawmakers consider lowering gun purchase age, guns on campuses

Reporter/Author: Dave Elias
Photojournalist: Mitchell Goerke
Air Date: March 6th, 2025
Program: Gulf Coast News
Station: WBBH-TV

https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/arti...

LEE COUNTY, Fla. —
Florida's gun debate is heating up as lawmakers in Tallahassee focus on the Second Amendment and have a plan to put guns into the hands of more young people.

It doesn't stop there, as some Republican lawmakers are pushing for guns on college campuses, too.

Jean Marcjozard is a freshman at Florida SouthWestern State College and said he supports people under 21 being allowed to purchase and own guns.

“Younger people should be able to protect themselves as much as older folks,” Marcjozard said.

He said that if young people his age are expected to carry a gun in battle and die for the country, they should have the right to carry guns.

The age to buy a gun was raised to 21 after the Parkland school shooting. State Sen. Randy Fine is ready to lower the age back to 18.

Kayla Fanfan is a nursing major. She called the idea terrifying.

Even more frightening to some students is Senate Bill 814, which would allow guns on college campuses.

“It's crazy how they're going to give us guns, give us the right to carry guns, and we can't even rent a car,” said FSW student Kayla Fanfan.

Some republican lawmakers argue guns on campus are necessary because not enough is being done to keep students safe.

“Now you expect us to have a shootout with the shooter. What's the difference between you and the shooter,” said FSW student Glorie Celestin.

Many students are urging lawmakers to look at other options.

“I feel like maybe a couple of people on campus could be licensed carriers, but we don't know who they are. Because knowing who they are could put others at risk,” said Makayla Jackson.

Orlando Marin is a manager at Guns 4 Less in Cape Coral and said if he went to school today, he would carry a gun onto campus if it was legal.

He stressed that carriers under 21 would still require background checks, and he suggested additional training as a possible compromise.

“You should train. If you want a firearm, you should go and shoot. But I'm somewhere in the middle of that as well,” Marin said.

If lawmakers pass the bills and the governor signs them into law, they would go into effect in July 2025.