{"id":116824,"date":"2026-05-16T14:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=116824"},"modified":"2026-05-16T14:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T19:18:40","slug":"116824","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milesfortis.com\/?p=116824","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

DeSantis Signs Law Arming Trained College, University Faculty After FSU Shooting<\/a><\/p>\n

A year after a gunman opened fire on Florida State University, trained college and university faculty can carry guns onto campus under a bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt puts the bad guys on the defense \u2014 they don\u2019t know who\u2019s going to be able to offer them resistance,\u201d DeSantis said during a Miami press conference. \u201cWe\u2019ve taken this more seriously than probably anyone else has \u2026 in our state\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n

He referred to Florida\u2019s guardian program, a state initiative allowing schools to train certain staff or hire security to wield firearms for self-defense. It was created for public K-12 schools in 2018 following shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead. The tragedy unfolded while a sheriff\u2019s deputy delayed confronting the gunman for nearly five minutes.<\/p>\n

DeSantis later removed him from office.<\/p>\n

Under the\u00a0new law<\/a>, HB 757, the program will be extended to colleges and universities. Staff hoping to become guardians must complete 144 hours of training \u2014 132 hours with firearms. Although the program isn\u2019t mandatory, college and university presidents have the power to appoint their school guardians.<\/p>\n

\u201cSadly but undeniably, institutions of learning have become targets of violence in our state and\u00a0<\/span>other states,\u201d Senate sponsor Don Gaetz, a Republican from Crestview, said in a written statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs parents and grandparents, we want our students to be safe and\u00a0<\/span>secure when they are on campus. This legislation ensures our institutions will use commonsense\u00a0<\/span>safeguards as well as high-tech systems to prevent violence where possible and respond quickly\u00a0<\/span>and effectively when needed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The measure comes 13 months after 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner\u00a0shot to death two<\/a>\u00a0and wounded five others outside FSU\u2019s busy Student Union in the middle of final exams. Police shot him in the jaw three minutes after he opened fire, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.<\/p>\n

Despite the speedy response from law enforcement, lawmakers agreed new reinforcements were needed. This included funding for more locks on classroom doors \u2014 after some students reported that they couldn\u2019t lock themselves away from the shooter \u2014 and increased security measures.<\/p>\n

Other\u00a0provisions<\/a>\u00a0in the package signed Friday include:<\/p>\n