FSU Shooting Sparks Renewed Gun Control Debate in Florida

In Tallahassee, Florida, a 20-year-old man opened fire on the Florida State University campus, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries. Authorities identified the suspected shooter as an FSU student and the son of a sheriff's deputy. He used his mother's former service weapon in the incident.

The shooting occurred while the Florida legislature was considering the removal of a gun control law. This law was enacted after the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, where 17 people were killed.

Tony Montalto, whose daughter was a freshman at Marjory Stoneman and lost her life in the massacre, shared the profound impact of the tragedy. He mentioned that several survivors of the Parkland shooting now attend FSU, including schoolmates of his late daughter.

Following the FSU shooting, FSU law student Josh Gallagher expressed the need for change, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue regardless of political affiliation.

In the wake of the Parkland tragedy, Florida implemented comprehensive gun control legislation. This legislation included a provision prohibiting most individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing rifles and other long guns. Initially, Republican state leaders supported this legislation.

However, seven years later, there is a renewed effort to repeal parts of the law, with Republican politicians once again leading the charge.

Luis Valdes, representing the advocacy group Gun Owners of America, argued that the initial legislation was a mistake. The repeal of parts of the legislation passed the Florida House of Representatives last month, primarily along party lines. However, the Florida Senate is expected to block the effort. Similar repeal attempts failed in previous years, and a federal appeals court upheld the law in 2023.

Federal law already restricts individuals under 21 from purchasing handguns. Despite the Florida law's prohibition on buying rifles and long guns for those under 21, state law still allows them to receive firearms as gifts.

Valdes argued that if the age for purchasing firearms is to be raised, it should also be raised for other adult privileges, such as voting, entering contracts, and marriage.

Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Marjory Stoneman alum who was a state representative following Parkland, defended the initial legislation. He criticized the suggestion that the law was solely driven by emotion.