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Bill To Allow Guns On Florida Campuses Passes First Hurdle

TALLAHASEE, Fla. (AP) - A bill that would let students carry guns on university campuses is moving through the Legislature two months after a shooter wounded three people at a Florida State University library.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved the bill Tuesday.

Rep. Greg Steube argued his bill would make campuses safer because a shooter could be stopped by a gun owner before police respond to a shooting scene.

Several students and university representatives spoke against the bill.

Steube said he was preparing his bill before Myron May opened fire on Florida State students and a library worker in November, wounding three people. May was killed by police outside the library.

But Rep. Dave Kerner said it is misguided to think armed students would be the proper entity to confront an active shooter.

The Associated Press is a wire service to which WUFT News subscribes.