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The NRA says gun free zones like college campuses make students sitting ducks during an attack. As Matt Galka tells us, the legislature is settling in for another heated gun debate.

College campuses will again be a battleground in Florida’s Capitol.  A bill allowing concealed carry permit holders to carry guns on campus was the first proposal taken up by lawmakers during their committee weeks.

The controversial idea still doesn’t have support from school leaders.

“There is in fact no credible evidence to suggest that the presence of students carrying concealed firearms would reduce violence on our college campuses,” said Tallahassee Community College President Jim Murdaugh who said he was representing all 28 college presidents.

Florida State criminology professor Gary Kleck says law-abiding citizens carrying guns doesn’t make campuses more dangerous.

“Gun violence among carry permit holders is close to non-existent, so allowing them to carry on campus, there’s no risk at all,” said Dr. Kleck.

University of Central Florida student and former active Marine Adam Whitmer isn’t convinced.

“I say if this passes any gun deaths or violence because of negligence or lack of training are the fault of this committee,” he said.

There’s more than 1.5 million concealed carry permit holders in the state, but no data on how many are students or faculty.

“One of the things you have to remember is in order to carry you have to be 21 years of age, and so that’s going to be a limiting factor,” said Sen. Greg Evers (R-Baker), the bill’s sponsor.

Florida is one of 20 states with outright bans for guns on campus.  23 others leave it up to the schools.

The proposal passed both its first House and Senate committees, with at least three more stops before they can be voted on by the legislature.