• A mass shooting at Florida State University (FSU) on April 18 left two dead and six injured. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner (son of a sheriff’s deputy), used his mother’s former service weapon. He was shot by police after firing in the student union and is in custody.
• President Donald Trump called the tragedy “terrible” and “shameful” but opposed new gun control, stating, “the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do.” He reaffirmed his support for the Second Amendment.
• In February, Trump signed an order directing the DOJ to review and dismantle federal firearm regulations deemed to infringe on gun rights, targeting policies like the pistol brace rule and ATF overreach.
• The DOJ’s 30-day review aims to reverse Biden-era rules, including arbitrary firearm classifications and licensing crackdowns, restoring what gun advocates call constitutional rights.
• The shooting reignites tensions over gun laws and “gun-free zones,” with Trump and conservatives advocating armed protection (e.g., arming teachers) over stricter regulations pushed by the Left.

President Donald Trump has described the deadly shooting at Florida State University (FSU) as a “terrible” and “shameful” tragedy, but reiterated his opposition to new gun control measures.

The mass shooting at FSU, which took place early Thursday morning, April 18, left at least two people dead and six others hospitalized after a gunman, now in custody, opened fire on campus. The suspected shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy, who allegedly used his mother’s former service weapon in the attack.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil confirmed that Ikner was a long-time member of the Leon County Sheriff’s Office Youth Advisory Council and had undergone law enforcement training programs. Officers confronted Ikner after he allegedly fired multiple shots inside the student union around noon ET, prompting a massive emergency response. He was shot at least once by police after refusing commands and is currently receiving medical treatment. Authorities confirmed he was also carrying a shotgun, though no victims appear to have been shot with it.

Students described chaotic scenes as gunfire sent crowds fleeing. Aidan Stickney, a 21-year-old business student, witnessed the attack unfold, saying the shooter initially attempted to fire a shotgun before switching to a handgun. Other students barricaded themselves in campus buildings. Ryan Cedergren and about 30 others hid in a basement bowling alley for 15 minutes before being escorted out by police. Chris Pento, visiting the campus with his twins, recounted hiding in an elevator after hearing gunshots.

By 1 p.m., law enforcement had cleared the immediate area and declared the threat “neutralized,” though the student union remains an active crime scene. FSU officials urged students to avoid the area. The investigation is ongoing, including how Ikner obtained the firearm used in the attack.

Trump expressed sorrow for the victims of the school shooting but emphasized that guns were not the root cause of the violence.

“Look, I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I’ve protected it, and these things are terrible,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office that same day when asked if there was anything he saw wrong with gun laws in the wake of the shooting. “But the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do. It’s, you know, a phrase that’s used probably too often. I will tell you that it’s a shame. I’m just hearing about it now.” (Related: Supreme Court to review challenge to Illinois’ semi-automatic gun ban.)

Trump signs an executive order to strengthen Second Amendment rights

The president has consistently opposed gun control measures.

In early February, he signed an executive order directing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review and dismantle federal firearm regulations that infringe on the Second Amendment.

The directive orders Attorney General Pam Bondi to conduct a sweeping 30-day review of all federal actions that may undermine the constitutional right to bear arms. Key areas under scrutiny include Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulations, such as the pistol brace rule that reclassified millions of firearms as illegal short-barreled rifles, putting legal gun owners at risk of felony charges; the Zero Tolerance Policy, which has led to unjustified revocations of Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) for minor paperwork errors; agency guidance from the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention; and NFA processing delays and arbitrary firearm/ammunition classifications that hinder lawful ownership.

Following the review, the DOJ will present a plan to restore and uphold Second Amendment rights, potentially overturning years of what gun rights advocates call “administrative tyranny.”

The order sets the stage for a direct rollback of Biden-era policies, including the widely condemned pistol brace rule previously struck down by the Eighth Circuit in FRAC v. Garland (2024), which threatened millions of gun owners with felonies and confiscation.

Other likely targets include the Frame or Receiver Rule, expanding ATF control over unfinished firearm parts; the “Engaged in the Business” Rule, which broadly redefines private sellers as dealers, subjecting them to harsh regulations; and ATF classification abuses, where arbitrary rulings have restricted lawful firearms and accessories.

Visit SecondAmendment.news for more stories like this.

Watch this video about California legislature introducing SB704 – a new gun control bill.

This video is from the Children Are NOT Sex Toys! channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CDC suppresses data on self-defense gun use after private meeting with GUN CONTROL advocates.

French rioting demonstrates how gun control laws are failing law-abiding citizens.

Pro-gun group: Gun control laws being ABUSED to deprive Trump of his Second Amendment rights.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

TheHill.com 1

TheHill.com 2

Wiley.law

Brighteon.com