Fla. considers allowing guns on campus

PENSACOLA, Florida (WALA) - If a bill passes the Florida legislature, college students could soon carry guns on campus. A similar measure is gaining support in Texas.

State Senator Greg Evers is backing legislation which would allow those with concealed weapons licenses to carry guns on college campuses in the sunshine state.

"It would protect the concealed weapons owners by having this actual legislation to where they would not be charged with open carry, so that by virtue, the name of open carry, yes, technically you could strap it on your side and walk down the street," Evers said.

Evers thinks it will help people protect themselves.

"You cannot rely on law enforcement to protect you always," added Evers.

John Warren is the police chief at the University of West Florida. His job his keeping the campus safe. Warren says this legislation could make that a tougher task.

"We would have to re-vamp our training for responding to a weapon's offense . Right now, we're accustomed to people not having weapons unless you're a bad guy," explained Warren.

All Florida university chiefs share a voice on this issue.

"The state university police chiefs are against weapons, guns in particular, on campus," Warren said.

But the real impact of this bill will be felt by the hundreds of thousands of students studying at Florida universities.

Marie Cenoble is a resident assistant at UWF. She's opposed to the legislation.

"I'd be very afraid. Who's to say the kid next to me won't snap," Cenoble said..

Cora Merritt, who sponsored an opposition to the bill, agrees.

"Just the thought of being in class. I don't have a concealed weapon, or a permit, but knowing that someone else did, more than make me feel safe, it would make me a little bit nervous," added Merritt.

Some UWF students are petitioning in support of the legislation. They say if students were allowed to carry weapons, incidents like the ones at Florida State University or Virginia Tech could've been stopped.

"The presence of a concealed carry weapon is all it takes in a lot of cases to repel something like that," Ben Walter said.

Both sides will get the opportunity to state their case to Senator Evers directly in a public forum meeting on campus. It will take place this Friday at 2:30 p.m.

As for the bill, it's expected to come up in the Senate next month.