Sheriff Grady Judd, acting as President of the Major County Sheriffs Association, is pushing legislators to loosen gun control on school campuses.

  • Sheriff Judd pushing for loosening gun control in schools
  • Judd wants deputies to train, arm teachers, professors
  • Pushing for additional legislation to expand Baker Act

“I’m mad, real mad,” said Sheriff Grady Judd, stating his anger over the fact that innocent people have been shot and killed in Florida in a mass shooting once again.

When it comes to protecting schools and students and staff inside them, his solution is to change state law to allow deputies to selectively train and arm teachers and professors across the state, after they’ve undergone a background check and psychological evaluation.

It’s a one-of-a-kind program that he said is already enacted at Southeastern University.

“We’ve got to wake up. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. It’s a game changer when two to three people are shooting back at you,” said Judd.

Folks at the post office had varying opinions about Judd’s solution.

“I don’t think it’s a bad idea, however, we need to do better screening overall,” said Josette Wiilams, of Tampa.

Carlos Reyes, on the other hand thinks the idea is too risky.

“I think they need to put law enforcement, policemen in these schools and that should take care of that," added Reyes.

The marine veteran would also like to see metal detectors.

Sheriff Judd said he’s also working with the Sheriff Scott Israel in Broward County to advocate for legislation that would expand the Baker Act.

“When we go to the house and we see the texts, the emails, the photographs and the really violent ramblings of an individual, but there’s no specific threat, we can’t make an arrest. If we don’t see any immediate health issue, we can’t Baker Act. Just give us the tools,” Judd said.

Judd said he’s been talking to legislators and sheriffs across the state. He expects comprehensive legislation to be introduced soon.