Staff Reports
Students barricaded doors and sprinted across campus as gunfire erupted at Florida State University. Two innocent lives were lost and six injured when a troubled student unleashed violence at the heart of campus. This nightmare exposes the harsh truth about evil in our society – and the heroes who stand against it.
The shooter, Phoenix Ikner, came from a broken home torn apart by a decade-long custody battle. Despite being raised around law enforcement through his stepmother’s service, he chose darkness. Let’s be clear – this wasn’t about access to firearms. It was about a young man’s moral failure and the breakdown of family values that left him adrift.
Brave police officers rushed toward danger, neutralizing the threat within minutes. These patriots train tirelessly to protect our communities. The rapid response saved countless lives – a testament to the courage of those who wear the badge. We must reject any attempt to smear law enforcement over one bad actor’s actions.
President Trump rightly defended our constitutional rights, reminding Americans that guns don’t kill people – criminals do. The Left’s knee-jerk calls for disarmament insult every responsible gun owner. This tragedy demands we address mental health crises and family decay, not scapegoat the Second Amendment.
Witnesses described scenes of pure terror – abandoned backpacks, sprinting through traffic, hiding in storage closets. One Parkland survivor endured her second school shooting, proving evil persists when we fail to root out its causes. These students need prayers, support, and the tools to defend themselves – not empty political posturing.
The university cancelled classes but plans to reopen quickly. That’s the American spirit – we don’t cower or surrender to fear. FSU’s leadership praised law enforcement’s heroism while offering counseling to the traumatized. True healing comes through community strength, not government overreach.
As night fell, students gathered for a vigil clutching American flags. Through tears, they sang patriotic songs and vowed to reclaim their campus. These young patriots understand what the media won’t admit: Our values of faith, family, and freedom remain our best defense against the darkness.
The bloodstains will wash away, but the lessons must endure. We need more armed officers on campus, not fewer. We need families teaching right from wrong, not courts enabling dysfunction. And we need unshakable resolve to protect our God-given liberties from those who exploit tragedy to erode them.
