After FSU shooting, Trump calls for 2A protection, not new laws

by Jose Nino

6:00am Wednesday, April 30, 2025

On April 17, a deranged gunman killed two two people and wounded six others. The attack, which unfolded near the Florida State University student union just before noon, rattled the campus and reignited fierce debate over gun policy and campus safety in Florida.

The shooter, a 20-year-old FSU student, arrived at a campus parking garage around 11 a.m. and began firing a handgun outside the student union shortly before noon. The student chaotically moved across green spaces and buildings, firing indiscriminately. Law enforcement ultimately confronted him. After refusing to comply with law enforcement directives, he was shot and apprehended by the officers at the scene.

President Donald Trump, whose primary residence is in Palm Beach, Florida, responded swiftly to the tragedy. In his initial remarks, Trump described the shooting as “a shame” and “a horrible thing,” stating, “Things like this take place. And we’ll have more to say about it later.”

When pressed about the possibility of new gun control measures, Trump reiterated his unwavering support for the Second Amendment:

“Look, I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it, and these things are terrible, but the gun doesn’t do the shooting. The people do. It’s a phrase that’s used probably too often.”

President Trump further emphasized, “I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, … and I will always protect the Second Amendment.”

Trump’s comments made clear that this latest shooting would not prompt him to reconsider his stance on gun rights or support additional restrictions.

The FSU shooting occurred against a backdrop of contentious debate over campus carry laws in Florida. Just three weeks before the attack, the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee narrowly voted down a bill (SB 814) that would have allowed concealed carry of firearms on college campuses. The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Randy Fine, was defeated in a 4-3 vote after Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia joined Democrats Mack Bernard, Jason Pizzo, and Carlos Guillermo Smith in opposition. Two other Republicans were absent, making Garcia’s vote decisive.

Sen. Garcia defended her vote, stating, “I have zero regret. … This decision wasn’t about partisan politics; it was rooted in common sense. The incident at FSU was tragic, but the real issue lies not with the firearm itself but with the factors that led to it.”

The bill’s failure is notable in a state legislature dominated by a Republican supermajority (28-12 in the Senate and 84-36 in the House after the 2024 elections), further highlighting divisions even within the GOP on gun issues.

Florida already has several gun control laws on the books, including these:

a ban on concealed carry and open carry of firearms on college campuses
minimum age of 21 for purchasing rifles and handguns
three-day waiting period for most firearm purchases
“red flag” law, allowing law enforcement to temporarily seize firearms from individuals deemed to be a threat to themselves or others

Despite these measures, the FSU shooter was able to obtain firearms and carry out the attack, violating multiple existing laws in the process.

While President Trump and many Republican lawmakers nominally remain committed to defending gun rights, the failure to pass the campus carry bill, due in part to a Republican defector, underscores ongoing divisions within the party. The FSU tragedy also raises questions about the effectiveness of current gun control laws, as existing measures did not stop the shooter from carrying out a heinous act.

As the investigation continues, the debate over how best to ensure campus safety in Florida and across the nation will certainly intensify.

Republished with permission from AmmoLand.