University of South Florida students plan to wear empty gun holsters and hand out literature to interested students around campus this week to protest against the state's ban on concealed firearms in colleges and universities.
This protest, which is part of the national 'Empty Holster Protest,' aims to end the state-wide ban on concealed weapons in colleges and universities. The students believe that it is infringing on both their Second Amendment rights and personal safety concerns.
"I don't feel like my right to self-protection and self-defense should be inhibited in any way," Emily Schwab, head of the College Republicans on the USF campus, said.
However, there are students who are in favor of the statewide ban on concealed firearms in colleges and universities.
USF freshman Amanda Kelly said that if students are allowed to carry weapons on campus, she would feel all the more unsafe and uncomfortable walking around the premises.
The students have even created a Facebook page 'USF Students for a Gun Free Campus,' to encourage students to join the protest and voice their opinion for a gun-free campus. They have also informed the University officials about the protest to avoid any confusion.
A student majoring in business with a minor in political science said that there are a majority of students who feel that it is much safer and rational to have gun free campuses.
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides citizens the right to bear arms. However, Florida is one of the 22 states that does not allow guns on college campuses.
Florida Statute 790.06, prevents "even concealed-weapons permit holders from taking a gun into any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile."
The weeklong protest is coinciding with the USF Week, an annual festival at the university.
A similar protest was conducted by students in colleges and universities across Georgia.
"Students for Concealed Carry," a national group, is helping students across the country organize similar demonstrations.
