Florida Lawmakers Vote to Allow College Staff to Carry Guns on Campus

The 'Guardian Program' will now extend to public colleges and universities in the state.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:48pm

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The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that will allow college professors and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus, expanding the existing 'Guardian Program' that currently applies to K-12 schools. Supporters say the move will boost campus safety, while critics argue it could 'increase the chance of unintentional shootings'.

Why it matters

This legislation is part of a broader debate around gun laws and school safety in Florida, which has seen several high-profile mass shootings in recent years, including at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and Florida State University in Tallahassee. The expansion of the Guardian Program to colleges is likely to be controversial, with concerns raised about the potential for more guns on campuses.

The details

The bill (HB 757) passed the Florida House 88-20 and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, a longtime supporter of the 2nd Amendment. The Guardian Program, which was enacted after the 2018 Parkland shooting, allows trained school personnel or hired security guards to carry firearms on K-12 campuses. More than half of Florida school districts currently use the program. The new legislation will extend these provisions to the state's public colleges and universities.

  • The Florida House passed the bill on March 12, 2026, the day before the scheduled end of the legislative session.
  • The Guardian Program was enacted in Florida after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland.

The players

Ron DeSantis

The Governor of Florida, who is expected to sign the bill expanding the Guardian Program to college campuses.

Alan Levine

The chair of the Board of Governors that oversees the State University System, who has supported the bill and introduced a new campus safety initiative.

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What they’re saying

“We must boost safety on our college campuses, and this bill is an important step in that direction.”

— Alan Levine, Chair, Board of Governors, State University System (palmbeachpost.com)

“Putting more guns on college campuses will only increase the chance of unintentional shootings and make students feel less safe.”

— Unnamed critic (palmbeachpost.com)

What’s next

The bill is expected to be signed into law by Governor DeSantis in the coming weeks, at which point the Guardian Program will be expanded to include Florida's public colleges and universities.

The takeaway

This legislation is part of an ongoing debate around gun laws and school safety in Florida, with supporters arguing it will improve campus security and critics warning it could lead to more gun violence. The expansion of the Guardian Program to colleges is likely to be a controversial move that will be closely watched in the state and across the country.