Jim Rosica
State Sen. Maria Sachs has filed an amendment to this year’s “campus carry” legislation that would allow each public college and university to decide whether to allow concealed weapons on campuses.
Sachs, a Delray Beach Democrat, submitted the change Monday to the bill (SB 68).
The legislation as currently written would delete the current blanket prohibition on concealed weapons being carried into “any college or university facility.”
Gun-rights advocates, such as the National Rifle Association, have joined with legislative Republicans to support the bill, which died last year.
State Sen. Greg Evers, a Baker Republican, is again sponsoring the bill.
However, Democrats, law enforcement and school officials – including Florida State President John Thrasher, a former GOP state senator – have opposed what’s known as the “campus carry” measure.
The bill cleared the Senate’s Criminal Justice Committee on Sept. 16 on a 3-2 party-line vote, records show.
It’s next up before the Higher Education Committee at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
