John McGuire (R-VA) has introduced legislation that would allow people shot in gun-free zones, like schools and government buildings, to sue the government, 29 News reports.
Research has suggested that 82 percent of public mass shootings have taken place in gun-free zones since 1998-2025. The pro-gun legislation aims to allow civil action against gun-free zones.
Virginia isn’t the only state that has recently proposed pro-gun legislation. According to Stateline, republican lawmakers in Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have introduced bills that would all those with concealed carry permits to bring firearms onto public college campuses. Currently, 11 states permit students, faculty, staff and visitors with conceal carry permits to have firearms on campus.
The laws argue that people would be able to defend themselves in the event of an emergency. Supporters of the legislation have said that gun-free zones make areas more of a target for mass casualty events while limiting the ability of citizens to properly defend themselves.
For example, on March 12, a gunman entered a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, killing one person and injuring two others before ROTC students fought the attacker. According to Stateline, a student stabbed the gunman, killing him. Old Dominion University is labeled as a gun-free zone in the state.
Opponents of the pro-gun legislation believe that it would make college campuses and increase the risk of accidental or impulsive violence, Stateline reports. Last May, a murder-suicide in a residence hall at the University of Wisconsin – Platteville shook the community. The University, which allows conceal carry on campus, said that there was no clear motive for the shooting other than the two victims having a relationship beyond that of a resident and a resident direction, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
In Florida, state lawmakers approved legislation that would allow employees designated by university presidents to carry firearms on public college and university campuses, Stateline reports. The legislation will soon make its way to Gov. Ron DeSantis for consideration. If signed into law, faculty and staff who volunteer and complete specialized training could be authorized to carry guns. According to Stateline, the program would provide 144 hours of training, falling short of the 770 hours required for Florida law enforcement officers.
There is currently no cohesive security plan in place across the states for facilities that allow conceal carry firearms. Practices that could be used in one state could widely vary compared to others. It would be up to facility managers or security personnel to create these measures if legislation were to pass.
Mackenna Moralez is the managing editor of the facilities market and the host of the Facilities in Focus podcast.
