University of North Florida students have raised concerns that expanding gun access on campus could create new safety risks, as Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the Guardian Program into law.

Florida lawmakers approved HB 757, allowing public university faculty and staff to carry concealed guns under the Guardian Program; however, UNF has no set plans in its approach to the program, as DeSantis has not yet signed the bill into law.

In the meantime, UNF students grapple with the possible expansion of the Guardian Program on college campuses as HB 757 is expected to be signed into law by DeSantis.

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While Florida colleges and universities would not be required to adopt the program, the expansion of the Guardian Program has drawn pushback from UNF students, who say it raises concerns about how the program would operate on campus and whether it could complicate emergency responses.

A UNF spokesperson said the university has no set plans in its approach to the program.

Naya Perry, a UNF sophomore, said the initiative is a “lousy attempt” at managing campus safety and pointed to the controversial approach for stricter gun laws in Florida.

“DeSantis will do anything but enforce stricter gun laws, even if it means putting more people at risk with more guns,” said Perry. 

DeSantis has consistently been transparent about his stance on Second Amendment rights, signing a 2023 bill that allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued permit. 

UNF junior Patrick Lawrence shared Perry’s sentiment and said the expansion of this program could pose hazards in an emergency.

“I don’t know how that would work on a college campus since it’s bigger than high school,” said Lawrence. “What about if there is a shooter and the police mistake one of these guardian people for the shooter? It seems like more guns raise more issues.”

After the events of the Uvalde shooting, in which an officer mistook the school’s coach for the active assailant, police faced scrutiny and criticism for their approach in neutralizing the threat. Though the officer did not fire his gun, law enforcement and government officials experienced scrutiny for the response.

Taylor Conway, a UNF sophomore, said the effectiveness of the Guardian Program is questionable given the size of college campuses, and that this may hinder emergency response.

“It just doesn’t make sense for us,” said Conway. “Colleges are huge, and there’s a lot more places, so giving more guns to people feels like a hazard.”

According to reports from Florida Politics, New College of Florida is preparing to allow faculty and staff to carry firearms on campus if the state expands the Guardian Program to “enhance student, faculty, and staff safety.”

“If HB757 is signed into law, UNF will review all requirements and provisions of the law, as well as any rules and regulations issued by the Florida Board of Governors implementing it,” said the university spokesperson.

The Guardian Program

In the wake of the April 2025 shooting at Florida State University, state legislators filed HB 757 in Florida to give public colleges and universities the option to arm more people on campus. 

Following the unveiling of DeSantis’s budget priorities in a press conference last December, which included $6 million to expand the Guardian Program into higher education, HB 757 is expected to be signed into law.

“This funding for school safety will ensure that students continue to have the resources needed to maintain safe and secure campuses statewide,” Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas said alongside DeSantis during the December press conference. 

HB 757 provided that university presidents would select which employees serve as Guardians, while county sheriffs would oversee their training and certification. 

The bill clarified that a Guardian’s role would be limited to responding to an active attacker on campus.

While HB 757 must be signed by DeSantis before taking effect on college campuses, the program would require 144 hours of training, along with psychological evaluations, background screening, and annual reauthorization.

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