So, what hysterical anti gun emotional crisis led to this?
Florida, the next state down, not only allows, concealed carry, but also stations armed security at all interstate rest areas after dark. Between the two, there’s not much crime at those rest areas.
Considerable of Florida’s pro gun legislation owes its life or at least the celerity of its passage to a year down here when tourists were getting killed at rest areas along the highways. That was 93 or 94, I believe.
There were some high profile robbery/shootings of foreign tourists (made some changes to make rental cars less identifiable too, as this contributed to the targeting) and if I recall correctly Jeb responded by stationing State Troopers at the rest areas until they worked out the present system of contracted security guards.