WASSERMAN SCHULTZ STATEMENT ON DEFEAT OF FLORIDA SENATE CAMPUS CARRY BILL

Wasserman Schultz Statement on Defeat of Florida Senate Campus Carry Bill

Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement after Chairman Miguel Diaz de la Portilla of the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee announced he would not grant S.B. 68 a hearing. The bill would have allowed campus carry permits.

“As a mother of two children who will be college freshmen soon and who represents thousands of families with children, I am elated that S.B. 68 will not be moving through the Florida Senate Judiciary Committee. This morning I stood with Senator Chris Smith, Senator Maria Sachs, Rep. Lori Berman and a coalition of concerned advocates and students to denounce this bill and its companion, H.B. 4001. We have a national epidemic of gun violence, and we know that college kids are still navigating life outside their home for the first time. We need more funding for security personnel and universal background checks on college campuses – not carry permits. This was the right decision and I’m glad Senator Diaz de la Portilla recognized that this was a dangerous step in the wrong direction,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

“Today’s decision was a step in the right direction, but the session is not yet over. Democrats remain committed to opposing this legislation, and representing the overwhelming number of Floridians who agree that guns do not belong on school campuses. We should not abdicate our duty to protect students by arming more students,” said Sen. Smith.