State Sen. Ileana Garcia (R-Miami) called Florida Congressman Randy Fine a racist on Friday after he implied her name for voting against a bill in the state Legislature to allow students to carry firearms on Florida universities.
Sen. Garcia's blunt comment follows yesterday's shooting at Florida State University (FSU) that left two dead and six wounded, including the gunman.
"I find it unacceptable @realDonaldTrump, for @VoteRandyFine to promote hateful rhetoric against me simply because I made a decision based on reason rather than partisan politics," Garcia said. "Your suggestion that students should defend themselves by carrying firearms on campus, along with the idea that a bill lacking a House companion would have made any real difference, is misguided. He’s inciting violence against me because he’s a racist."
Sen. Garcia was the lone Republican "no" vote on Rep. Fine's bill in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee in March. Notably, her vote was critical after two Republicans stepped out
She joined three Democrats in voting against the legislation, which was Fine's last in the Florida Senate before being elected to Congress a week later.
Fine, who is Jewish, filed the bill in response to a rise in antisemitic incidents on college campuses following Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
"For the first and only time in 8.5 years in the Legislature, I failed," Fine said. By a vote of 3-4, with two absent, the committee voted to keep universities “gun-free zones." An offensive name given what happened yesterday. "The no vote included all three Democrats plus one so-called Republican."
This isn't the first time Garcia has had issues with Fine. She also criticized him for barring undocumented students from receiving discounted tuition rates.
"It was the Latina for Trump that sank your bill and called you out on the Dreamers issue. Deal with it… I have zero regret," Garcia added.
The 20-year-old student allegedly involved in yesterday's shooting used a handgun to shoot in the vicinity of Florida State's Student Union building. He is reportedly the son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy who has been with the department for 18 years.
The two people killed in the incident were not FSU students.
"Proud to have voted against your moronic campus carry bill, that didn’t have a House companion. This decision wasn’t about partisan politics; it was rooted in common sense. The incident at FSU was tragic, but the real issue lies not with the firearm itself, but with the factors that led to it," Garcia said.
With Fine off to Washington and Garcia in Florida, further tension between the two lawmakers could subside. Just don't expect any greeting cards in the future.
"As more information comes to light, the facts will reveal the truth. Both the campus security and Tallahassee police performed admirably in response to the situation," Garcia said. "Washington DC will come to understand the implications of their choices, especially in contrast to Mike Waltz @michaelgwaltz. Randy Fine is feckless and racist. Put that on the record! Time will tell."
