Florida lawmakers are proposing to expand the state’s guardian program to allow certain trained adults to carry firearms on public college and university campuses. Supporters say recent campus shootings at Brown University and Florida State University expose gaps in security, while critics are expected to question the role of firearms in higher education settings.
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TALLAHASSEE, FL (3-minute read) — Florida legislators are once again debating whether armed, trained adults should be allowed to carry firearms on college campuses, this time in direct response to recent shootings at Brown University and Florida State University. State Senator Don Gaetz has filed SB896, a bill that would extend Florida’s existing guardian program, which currently applies to K through 12 schools, to public colleges and universities.
Under his proposal, campuses could choose to opt in and authorize qualified employees, faculty members and students to carry concealed firearms after completing specialized training. Supporters argue that these changes could strengthen response times, tighten security plans and improve communication during active threats, while opponents are likely to worry about the risks of more firearms in student spaces.
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The measure has been referred to committee as Florida prepares for its next legislative session starting January 13, 2026, with a matching bill already filed in the House.
Florida Campus Carry: What SB896 Would Change
SB896 would expand Florida’s guardian program, which already allows trained school personnel to carry a firearm in K through 12 settings, so that public colleges and universities could voluntarily join. No campus would be required to participate. Instead, each institution could decide whether the guardian option fits its culture, security needs and relationship with local law enforcement.
According to Gaetz, the bill is not just about having more people armed. It is also about strengthening risk assessment and emergency planning on every campus that chooses to opt in. Recent incidents have exposed serious problems with communication during active threats, including confusion over alerts, lockdown instructions and coordination with police. Gaetz has pointed to the Brown University incident as a painful example of what can go wrong when there is no clear communications plan and no prepared personnel on the ground.
Under the guardian concept, participants are typically required to pass background checks, psychological screening and substantial firearms training focused on safety, marksmanship and decision making. Although exact standards for universities would still need to be defined through policy and implementation, the intent is that guardians are not casual carriers. They would be individuals who train regularly, understand use of force laws and are integrated into the campus security plan.
The upcoming session will determine whether SB896 and its House companion become law, or whether Florida’s colleges continue operating under the current policy that generally restricts firearms on campus to law enforcement and very limited exceptions.
Safety Tip: If you choose to carry a firearm for self defense, seek professional training that includes legal education, judgment based scenarios and safe storage practices, and always follow your state’s campus and carry laws exactly as written.
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