There are many things that we see in the younger generation that makes us concerned for the future of the united States. However, there are also many things that we see in the younger generation that give us hope that many will have courage when it is time to take a stand. Such an instance occurred in Florida as students are calling out state senators over the fact that they are infringing upon their rights by not acknowledging their right to keep and bear their arms on campus.

One campus carry bill has already passed in the Florida State House. However, a companion Senate bill has been put on the backburner, even though it has a couple of committee endorsements.

So, who is to blame in the matter?

Apparently it is Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R-Miami).

Guns.com reported in January:

A Miami area Republican is refusing to schedule a hearing on a proposal to allow concealed carry on public college and university campuses.

The measure, backed by State Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, had already won approval from the Criminal Justice and Higher Education committees but is stalling in the Judiciary Committee where the chair, Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, is refusing to schedule a hearing on the bill.

Last April, de la Portilla did much the same thing to stop the progress of a similar bill by Evers saying at the time, “there doesn’t seem to be too much support for that bill.”

Now, a student group is calling him and other senators out.

In an open letter from Bekah Hargrove, state director for Florida Students for Concealed Carry, she wrote, “Senator Diaz de la Portilla has taken it upon himself to unilaterally decide the future of a bipartisan bill that the vast majority of legislative members support. He has made a mockery of the American legislative branch and turned Florida’s legislative process into a one-man show, without respect for the safety of college students.”

“In fact, Senator Diaz de la Portilla has continued to ignore campus rape survivor, Shayna Lopez-Rivas who has been attempting to schedule a short meeting with him since October of 2015,” the letter continued. “She asserts that if she had been old enough to have a gun and if she had been allowed to carry on campus, she never would have been raped. Yet Senator Diaz de la Portilla does not want to give her the time of day, so she has made all of her emails to him public on social media in an effort to share her story.”

According to Ms. Lopez-Rivas, “Senator Portilla would rather have me be raped again than even schedule a bill.”

Hargrove claims that the Florida senator is “ignoring his job description” by “ignoring his role as a servant to the people” and refusing “meetings with the bill sponsors.”

While Hargrove acknowledged that the senator could vote “no” on campus carry, he should at least put the bill up for a vote. However, if he is unwilling to do that, Hargrove writes, “He should be removed from his office.”

Finally, she called out those complicity with Senator Portilla.

“If this type of behavior is permitted to continue, the legislative system will be fundamentally changed forever. Senator Diaz de la Portilla represents exactly what is wrong in politics and the people must not let him continue to act as judge, jury, and executioner. Senate President Andy Gardiner is just as much to blame. Senator Gardiner has the power to ensure the campus carry bill gets a vote, but refuses to do anything and uses Senator Diaz de la Portilla as a scapegoat.”

She then asked that others contact the senators to voice their opinion.

Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla

[email protected]

Phone: 850-487-5040

Senate President Andy Gardiner

[email protected]

Phone: 850-487-5013

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