On April 17, 2025, tragedy struck Florida State University when a gunman opened fire, killing two and injuring six. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, reportedly used his mother’s former service weapon. He was injured during a confrontation with police and hospitalized. Authorities have not yet identified a motive or named the victims.

President Donald Trump addressed the incident, saying, “These things are terrible,” before defending gun rights: “The gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.” He added, “I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment.” Asked about legislation, Trump said, “This has been going on a long time… we’ll have more to say about it later.”

His comments drew harsh backlash online. One user on X wrote, “’Sorry about the dead people, but I love guns.’ Their ashes are not even cold yet.” Others criticized his logic: “This rarely happens in countries that don’t have guns. All of them have people.”

FSU’s campus is now in mourning. Vigils are being held as the community seeks answers and comfort. The shooting has reignited debates over gun laws, with many questioning, once again, how many more lives must be lost before change happens.