Tallahassee, FL -(Ammoland.com)- Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and those effected by the shooting at Strozier library, as well as the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Smith who was slain yesterday morning in an ambush.
That more students were not injured or killed in the shooting on campus is due in no small part to the swift action of the Tallahassee police community, and we keep them in our hearts during their time of loss.
The events of the last week in Tallahassee make plainly clear that it is unacceptable for responsible students who have gone to training, had extensive background checks, had their fingerprints taken, are of legal age, and are licensed by the state to be prevented from carrying their self-defense weapons on campus.
We have seen that the current “Gun-Free Zone” policies have done nothing to curb violence, both in our state and nationwide. As criminals don’t abide by these policies, they only serve to prevent victims from having the ability to defend themselves and their peers.
This is highlighted by two FSU students, one of whom was a US Army Infantry combat veteran and had a clear shot at the shooter, the other is gunshot victim Nathan Scott who is a member of Students for Concealed Carry at FSU who was able to go and warn other students about the shooter despite his injury. Both of these individuals, in spite of having the training and skills necessary to end the shooting, were powerless to prevent it due to Florida’s laws.
As a result of this tragedy, we implore Florida State University President John Thrasher to reconsider his stance on campus carry despite being one of the main opponents to Florida’s campus carry bill in 2011.
We also ask students, faculty and parents who are concerned about safety on campus to call and email to request he do the same. There is no sane reason why our fellow students should have to stare down the barrel of a gun and be incapable of defending themselves.
About Students for Concealed Carry (SCC)
Students for Concealed Carry (SCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization.