Staff Reports
A peaceful afternoon at Florida State University was shattered on April 17 when a gunman opened fire near the student union, killing two and injuring six others. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner—a student and the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy—was taken into custody after being wounded by police. Witnesses described the chaos as students ran for their lives and barricaded themselves in classrooms, a scene that has become all too familiar on American campuses.
The details emerging from this tragedy are deeply troubling. Ikner reportedly used his mother’s former service weapon, which he had access to due to her position as a law enforcement officer. The shooting began when Ikner, dressed in an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts, exited an orange Hummer and fired a rifle in the direction of students before switching to a pistol and shooting a woman nearby. The two individuals killed were not students, and all six wounded are expected to recover. The rapid response by campus police and first responders prevented further loss of life, but the psychological scars left on the FSU community will linger.
This horrific event underscores the urgent need for a serious, sober conversation about campus security and the root causes of violence. For years, the left has pushed for gun control measures that do little to address the reality that evil actors will find ways to carry out their plans, often by exploiting lapses in security or, as in this case, accessing firearms through family members in law enforcement. Instead of focusing on restricting the rights of law-abiding citizens, it’s time to prioritize practical solutions: enhanced campus security, better mental health resources, and a culture that encourages vigilance and personal responsibility.
Predictably, progressive politicians wasted no time in politicizing the tragedy, blaming the Trump administration and Florida’s Republican leadership for “inaction” on gun violence. But these knee-jerk calls for more gun laws ignore the fact that criminals, not firearms, are responsible for these heinous acts. President Trump’s response was clear—he expressed condolences while reaffirming his commitment to protecting the Second Amendment, rightly pointing out that it is people, not guns, who commit these crimes.
As the FSU community mourns and recovers, we must resist the temptation to use this tragedy as a pretext for further eroding constitutional rights. Instead, universities and policymakers should focus on real, actionable measures that protect students and uphold the freedoms that make America unique. The answer isn’t to disarm law-abiding citizens or demonize gun ownership, but to ensure that evil is confronted swiftly and decisively—on campus and beyond.
