Kendall Moffett | Staff Writer
On Sept. 10, a Florida appeals court struck down a 40-year ban on open carry weapons as unconstitutional, and starting Sept. 26, residents will legally be able to carry their firearms openly in public–and I’m scared.
The guidelines for obtaining a firearm in Florida require you to be 21 years old for a pistol; 18 years old to buy shotguns and rifles, though discouraged. However, there are loopholes to this if those age 18 are in shooting activities or hunting. And to make matters worse, the process does not require a permit or gun training after purchase.
Though open carry is forbidden on school campuses, federal grounds and more, the fear still lingers that this proposal further weakens gun control. Not to mention Florida doesn’t have strict gun laws compared to other states, a point made by EveryTown, a gun safety and support fund, scored the state with 21 out of 100 for gun law strength.
This statistic is alarming but not surprising, as Florida’s score hasn’t improved since last year. The score is based on foundational gun laws such as permits and background checks. The fewer the restrictions, the lower the score.
I fear this decision will further normalize the amount of school shooting threats universities will get. Which makes me worry when Florida International University will be the next target, especially with the wave of real and hoax threats targeting historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs.
My anxiety goes through the roof when I walk on FIUs open campuses. It’s no wonder my fear is spiking, given the potential hiding spaces and easy accessibility onto campus grounds.
FIU prohibits the use, possession, and storage of firearms, yet their radio silence in response to recent threats only deepens the insecurity I feel in a space where students are supposed to safely obtain their education. With Florida’s open carry law, the lack of communication from the university makes it harder to trust that student safety is a priority.
As a student, it’s hard feeling safe on campus as universities across the country such as Florida State University are being attacked with shooting threats and violent actions. My heart drops to my stomach when another alert or lockdown appears on social media. Seeing many students affected by these actions makes me sick.
It feels like only a matter of time before these threats reach FIU again. Open carry is unnerving as it makes me hyperaware of my surroundings, the visibility of a gun can turn a tense moment into a crisis, making a conflict deadly, and can make it hard for law enforcement to distinguish an open carrier from an actual threat.
The fear isn’t just hypothetical- it’s real and immediate.
However, this decision–and the fear it brings–won’t stop me from demanding safer gun control in Florida.
Instead of being silent on matters like this, FIU should release a public statement addressing the implications of Florida’s open carry ruling and reaffirm the university’s safety policies.
The statement should acknowledge the emotional toll of gun visibility and school shooting threats that could potentially circulate on social media. The university must clarify that open carry remains prohibited on campus and invite dialogue between students and administration to foster transparency.
This open carry law shouldn’t leave us paralyzed by fear– it should ignite the demand to gather and protest for safer gun laws in the state of Florida. FIU must support its students and advocate for stricter gun laws, because student safety and education should never be held hostage by a weapon.
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The opinions presented on this page do not represent the views of the PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect the perspectives of contributing writers and/or university community members.
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