On September 16 Florida Republicans passed campus carry legislation out of committee with the support of Shayna Lopez-Rivas–a Florida State University student and rape victim who refuses to be defenseless in the midst of America’s campus rape culture.
The legislation–HB 4001/SB 68, sponsored by representative Greg Steube (R-Sarasota) and senator Greg Evers (R-Baker)–would make it legal for women with a concealed carry permit to carry their guns on campus so they could defend themselves if in Lopez-Rivas’ position.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Lopez-Rivas said she emerged from her horrible rape “resolved to never be a victim again.” Adding, “I will not be a sitting duck for a rapist or a shooter.” She stressed how much she would “feel safer” on the FSU campus if she were allowed to keep her gun with her for self-defense.
Breitbart News previously reported that Florida’s League of Women Voters (FLWV) held an August 13 rally against legislation to arm women for self-defense on campus. The Miami Herald reported that FLWV Gun Safety Committee chair Patti Brigham believes arming women and other law-abiding citizens on campuses increases the risk that an argument will escalate into a shootout.
Bingham did not speak to the risk women in Lopez-Rivas’ position face if mandated to walk across campus, through a parking garage, or in an isolated school building unarmed.
Rep. Stuebe and Sen. Evers both pushed to arm women on campuses in 2015, and the bills they introduced were defeated by opposition from gun control groups geared toward women. Groups like FLWV and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America both rallied to keep women and other law-abiding citizens on campus unarmed.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
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