Gun Law Changes Considered in Several States for College Campuses

Lawmakers in at least eight states are seeking to ease gun restrictions on college campuses. They argue that allowing law-abiding citizens to carry firearms could enhance personal safety. States involved in this movement include Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

In Florida, proposed legislation would permit “students, faculty, and staff to carry firearms on public university campuses.” Similarly, Louisiana’s HB 99 aims to enable anyone aged 18 and older, who is legally allowed to own a firearm, to carry one on campus or within university buildings.

Meanwhile, South Dakota’s Senate Bill 100 looks to empower citizens to carry weapons for self-defense in college settings. In Wyoming, lawmakers discussed a proposal allowing individuals qualified under the state’s “constitutional carry” law to carry concealed firearms on campuses; however, that bill did not succeed. As it stands, only those with a “state-issued concealed carry permit” can carry firearms on Wyoming campuses.

On March 12, 2026, an incident occurred at Old Dominion University, a gun-free campus, where a gunman entered a classroom. The situation escalated until a group of ROTC students intervened, resulting in one fatality.

John Lott, a commentator, remarked that designating areas as gun-free creates a “magnet” for those with harmful intentions, suggesting that these zones attract individuals looking to commit violence.