FSU Shooting Survivors Urge Lawmakers to Block Gun Bill

FSU Shooting Survivors Urge Lawmakers to Block Gun Bill \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Florida State University students, reeling from a deadly campus shooting, urged lawmakers to maintain a gun law that raised the minimum buying age to 21. Survivors called on legislators to enhance safety measures, including mental health resources and classroom security. Lawmakers are currently debating a rollback of that 2018 law.

Quick Looks

• FSU students called on lawmakers to reject bills lowering the gun-buying age from 21 to 18.
• The plea follows a deadly shooting on campus, which left 2 dead and 6 injured.
• The shooter, Phoenix Ikner, allegedly used a sheriff deputy’s former service weapon.
• Students urged more campus safety funding, door lock upgrades, and mental health resources.
• Survivors from Parkland’s 2018 shooting also joined the advocacy effort.
• Gov. Ron DeSantis and House GOP leaders back the age-lowering bill.
• Senate President Ben Albritton remains undecided, citing emotional ties to Parkland.
• FSU currently offers optional shooter training but no mandatory protocols.

Deep Look

One week after a deadly shooting rattled Florida State University (FSU), student survivors are transforming trauma into advocacy, urging state lawmakers to preserve the 2018 gun safety law that raised the minimum firearm purchase age from 18 to 21.

With the legislative session entering its final weeks, students stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Democratic lawmakers in the Capitol rotunda, calling on officials to block efforts to roll back the post-Parkland gun reforms. Their message was clear: the safety of students should not be a partisan issue.

“We owe it to the victims, not just here at Florida State University, but across Florida and across our nation, to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” said Andres Perez, a 20-year-old FSU junior and president of the campus chapter of Students Demand Action.

A Deadly Wake-Up Call

Last Thursday, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student, opened fire near a campus building, killing two men and injuring six others. The weapon used was reportedly a former service pistol belonging to his stepmother, a sheriff’s deputy. Police returned fire, critically wounding Ikner, who remains hospitalized and has not yet been formally charged.

Five victims have since been discharged from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, while one remains under care in stable condition.

The shooting occurred just a mile from Florida’s Capitol, further intensifying the urgency around gun legislation as lawmakers debated bills to loosen existing restrictions.

Students Recall Horror, Demand Action

At Tuesday’s press conference, student survivors described harrowing moments of hiding in classrooms, texting loved ones goodbye, and barricading doors with chairs.

“There were no locks on our doors,” recalled Natanel Mizrahi, a senior. “So instead, brave students stood near the entrance with more chairs to try and stop a would-be attacker.”

Students urged lawmakers to:

• Maintain the gun-buying age at 21
• Install door locks in every campus classroom
• Mandate active shooter training for all staff and students
• Expand mental health support services on college campuses

An FSU spokesperson, Amy Farnum-Patronis, said that while the university offers optional active shooter training, it is not mandatory. She confirmed that the university is assessing door lock protocols as part of broader safety reviews.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of our campus community remains our foremost priority,” she said.

Echoes of Parkland

Among the advocates were survivors of the 2018 Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people were killed and 17 more wounded. The tragedy sparked a powerful student-led movement that successfully pushed Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature to pass new gun control laws, including the age increase.

Now, those same students are fighting to prevent history from being undone.

“The sight of abandoned bookbags this week brought back memories I had tried to forget,” said one Parkland survivor. “We fought for that law. It saved lives. Don’t erase our progress.”

Political Divide and Legislative Uncertainty

Despite student outcry, Gov. Ron DeSantis and key Republicans continue to support lowering the minimum age to 18, citing arguments around military eligibility and Second Amendment rights.

“If you’re old enough to serve in the military, you should be able to buy a firearm,” DeSantis has said.

House Speaker Daniel Perez has thrown his support behind the rollback bill. But Senate President Ben Albritton has expressed hesitation—even before the FSU shooting. Speaking in March, Albritton became emotional recalling a visit to the Parkland school, emphasizing the lasting impact of that tragedy.

“I haven’t made a decision,” he told reporters, noting he’s also a lifetime NRA member.

With the bill’s future hanging in the balance, Albritton may now be the swing voice in determining whether Florida holds firm on its 2018 reforms—or takes a step back.

What’s Next?

• FSU students and activists plan to remain at the Capitol until the session concludes.
• The bill to lower the gun-buying age could face a Senate floor vote in coming days.
• A final decision will test whether Florida lawmakers prioritize gun rights or campus safety.
• National attention is growing as Parkland families and survivors re-engage in lobbying efforts.
• FSU leadership is reviewing safety infrastructure and response training following the shooting.

As lawmakers weigh legislation, Florida students continue to live with the trauma—and are determined to make their voices heard.

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