Florida’s Southeastern University and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office have teamed up for the state’s first Sentinel Program, which trains staff and faculty to carry a concealed firearm on campus.

“The number one question asked by parents when visiting our university was about safety,” said Dr. Chris Own, executive vice president at Southeastern University. “It’s a no-brainer for us. Our motto is ‘students first.'”

Although carrying a gun on campus is against Florida law, Sheriff Grady Judd told Ginny Simone that he will swear in the trained staff as special deputies and give them the authority to stop an active shooter on campus.

As Judd noted, “There’s nothing more important in the entire world than our children, and we’re there to stand in the gap between good and evil.”