Gun Bill Changed, No Weapons on Campus

Robert Cowie’s testimony made a difference.

The father of a Florida State University student who died in an accidental shooting gave emotional testimony in a Florida Senate committee two weeks ago about the death of his daughter, Ashley Cowie, 20, who died on January 9 after another student’s rifle accidentally discharged at a party.

When that same committee met Wednesday, it voted to dramatically change the bill. The measure (SB 234) permits concealed weapons permit owners to “open carry” their weapons. Until Wednesday, it would have also allowed carrying of weapons on college campuses.

Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, offered an amendment during the Senate Criminal Justice Committee meeting on Wednesday that essentially keeps current law as it applies to campuses, banning the carrying of guns at colleges.

Dockery said she had heard from many universities and parents of college students who were opposed to the bill. She doesn’t like the concept of allowing guns on college campuses because of the “maturity level,” she said.

“This bill has caused a lot of anguish for parents and college students,” Dockery said.

Prior to the amendment by Dockery, the bill was opposed by many Florida university police forces and business groups, but backed by the powerful National Rifle Association.

Now the bill allows people with concealed license permits to carry their guns in full view in stores but not at schools and other prohibited areas. Randy Miller, a lobbyist for the Florida Retail Federation, said he is still opposed to the bill because it allows concealed weapons permit holders to openly carry weapons in stores.

The intent of the bill, explained Sen. Greg Evers, R-Crestview, was to make it so someone with a concealed weapons permit would not get in trouble for accidentally allowing glimpses of their gun.

Evers said he was saddened by Cowie’s testimony earlier, but pointed out the bill wouldn’t have changed the circumstances of Cowie’s death. What he meant was the student who allegedly shot her was under 21, the minimum age for someone to have a concealed weapons permit.

Evers has said in previous media interviews that he believes bringing guns on to school campuses actually improves safety. He told the Tallahassee Democrat that he had “no reservations about pushing the bill.”

Cowie’s Senate testimony two weeks ago was so emotional it moved some in the audience to tears.

“Allowing guns in an atmosphere of college parties puts everyone involved at increased and undue risk,” Cowie told senators. “Would you feel more or less at risk today if I were carrying a gun?”

The committee ran out of time Wednesday and didn’t take a vote on the bill, though Evers said he would bring it up again at the committee’s next meeting.

By Lilly Rockwell
The News Service of Florida