TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Tuesday rejected a bill that would’ve legalized concealed weapons on college and university campuses. 

Florida law prohibits on-campus firearm possession. However, the proposal would’ve made Florida one of roughly 13 U.S. states allowing some sort of campus carry.

“An 18- or 19-year-old… deserves to be able to fight their way out of a building,” said Melbourne State Republican Sen. Randy Fine, the bill sponsor.

Fine said the 2024 pro-Palestinian campus riots motivated him to file the proposal. The point resonated with Hollywood Democratic State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who opposed the bill, but also defended Fine’s motivation.

“Some of the behavior I’ve seen over the last year, I would shoot somebody if my kid was held hostage like that,” said Pizzo. “I absolutely would.”

Pizzo, like other Democrats, opposed campus carry at-large.

“My other son is entering college… and I don’t trust his peers or his classmates to have a gun in their dorm room,” said Pizzo.

Pizzo also took issue with the response of some Democrats toward Fine’s bill and its motivation.

“The tenant of the Democratic Party is that we are inclusive, that we believe in equality,” said Pizzo. “That’s supposed to be who Democrats are so when you shake your head because it’s not one type of person you’re looking to protect, that’s not okay.”

Fine’s campus carry bill lacks a companion bill in the House, meaning it’s unlikely the issue will arise again in the 2025 Legislative Session.

The Senate Criminal Justice Committee rejected the bill in a 4-3 vote. Two GOP lawmakers failed to vote on the bill, and at least one voted against the measure.