In the wake of a tragic shooting on the campus of Florida State University that left two dead and six injured, former President Donald Trump addressed the incident, calling it a “terrible” and “shameful” act of violence. However, he indicated that the tragedy wouldn’t shift his stance on gun legislation.
Speaking to reporters, Trump reiterated his long-standing support for the Second Amendment. “These things are terrible,” he said, “but it’s the individuals who pull the trigger, not the firearms themselves.”
While acknowledging the emotional toll of such shootings, Trump maintained that new gun control measures are not the answer. “This issue has been around for a long time,” he said. “It’s my responsibility to uphold the Second Amendment. That was one of the pillars of my campaign, and I’ll always stand by it.”
Trump also expressed familiarity with the area, noting that he spends much of his time in Palm Beach, Florida. “I know the school and the community well,” he added.
Authorities identified the suspect as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, who was taken into custody after being shot by responding officers. Law enforcement confirmed that Ikner was responsible for the shooting spree that rocked the Tallahassee campus.
Though Trump has generally opposed new restrictions on firearms, during his presidency he did enact a ban on bump stocks—attachments that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire more rapidly—following the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting. That ban, however, was overturned by the Supreme Court last year.
More recently, Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to review and potentially roll back gun regulations introduced during the Biden administration. These included stricter guidelines for gun dealers.
The leadership of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) remains in flux. Last week, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll stepped in as acting director, replacing Kash Patel, who had been overseeing both the ATF and the FBI.
