Republican lawmakers in eight states have introduced bills in 2026 to permit firearms on college campuses amid a recent string of school shootings. The states considering campus carry legislation include Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Campus Carry Legislation Advances in Multiple States
In Florida, a state Senate bill would allow students, faculty, and staff to carry guns on public college campuses, while a complementary House bill awaiting the governor’s approval authorizes trained faculty and staff to carry firearms. Louisiana lawmakers proposed a broad campus carry bill that would remove colleges from designated gun-free zones, permitting any legal adult to carry weapons on campus. Republican state representatives have argued these measures would harmonize campus firearm policies with existing state carry laws.
More than a dozen states, such as Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, and Texas, already permit some form of on-campus carry, though regulations vary significantly. For example, West Virginia’s 2023 law allowing concealed carry on campuses faced opposition from university presidents who cited concerns about public safety and increased suicide risk.
Recent Campus Shootings Renew Debate Over Firearms Access
This legislative push follows high-profile violent incidents, including a March 2026 shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia where a convicted felon linked to ISIS opened fire in a classroom, killing one instructor and injuring two others before being subdued by ROTC cadets. In December 2025, a shooter at Brown University in Rhode Island killed two students and injured nine others during exams, later killing an MIT professor at his home in the Boston area.
Supporters of campus carry contend that allowing armed students or staff on campus could potentially stop similar attacks more rapidly. Opponents warn that introducing more guns could raise the risk of accidents and violence.
Voices From Affected Communities
Florida State Representative Michelle Salzman, who was a student during a 2025 campus shooting at Florida State University, expressed that students felt helpless during that attack and wanted the ability to defend themselves and others. Meanwhile, university officials in states that have enacted campus carry laws have voiced concerns about the implications for campus safety and resources.
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