Just three weeks before a gunman opened fire on unarmed students at Florida State University, Florida state Sen. Ileana Garcia (R) cast the deciding vote to kill a bill that would have allowed lawful campus carry. The legislation, SB 814, was designed to let college students protect themselves on campus—but Garcia sided with Democrats, effectively disarming every potential victim.

On April 17, that decision became painfully real. At least six students were injured when an assailant opened fire inside FSU’s student union. None of the victims were armed, and no law-abiding student had the legal means to defend themselves.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Randy Fine, had made the stakes clear in February when he introduced SB 814. “Adults should have the right to protect themselves on campus,” Fine said. “There is no magic force field that keeps criminals from carrying a gun onto campus; this bill will ensure that students have the same rights on campus as they do off.”

Fine specifically warned that universities across America were prioritizing radical activism over student safety. But Garcia, despite holding a Republican seat, broke ranks with her own party and cast her vote against SB 814 on March 26—just 22 days before the FSU attack.

The result? A deadly vulnerability, created by the very people elected to defend freedom and safety.

The debate over campus carry has long divided lawmakers, but it’s become even more urgent as crime and politically driven unrest rise on college campuses. Florida’s SB 814 would have brought the state in line with nearly a dozen others that allow trained, licensed adults to carry firearms on public college grounds.

Instead, Florida students remain defenseless, thanks in part to Garcia’s inexplicable alliance with Democrats who have made restricting gun rights their top priority—even at the cost of public safety.

As of now, no information has been released identifying the shooter or whether they had a criminal record, but one thing is clear: the shooter ignored campus gun laws. The victims, however, followed them—and paid the price.

While liberal media outlets downplay or ignore this connection, the facts are undeniable. Garcia and her Democrat allies had a chance to empower responsible students with the right to self-defense. They said no. And now innocent students are in the hospital, some critically wounded.

Conservatives across the state are demanding answers. Why did a Republican senator abandon her party’s principles and side with a radical anti-gun agenda? Why was the right to self-defense stripped away just weeks before students needed it most?

This isn’t about politics—it’s about lives. When seconds matter, law enforcement is minutes away. And when politicians block your right to protect yourself, they bear responsibility for the consequences.

Sen. Garcia’s decision will not be forgotten. The voters of Florida deserve leaders who stand firm on the Second Amendment and refuse to compromise on safety. This was more than a vote—it was a betrayal.