Many students interviewed by the Emerald said gun-control issues are important, but have been neglected during the current campaign rhetoric.
Business administration major Lance Lucas said the assault weapons ban was ineffective. "I'm against a ban that I think is just useless legislation, like this one was," he said. "I don't think that what they did to guns changed anything about their lethality ... rather it just drove up prices for enthusiasts and consumers."
He said the ban didn't affect people who buy guns through illegal channels to commit crimes and other methods are necessary to reduce gun crime.
"I'm (more) in support of prosecuting, punishing criminals for crimes they are already committing as far as buying illegal guns and using illegal weapons, than trying to push new legislation that isn't going to affect those criminals anyways," he said.
He said the Constitution gives students authority to carry concealed weapons in open areas of the University campus.
"I don't mind when private establishments have billboards or placards stating that there are no handguns allowed, but when you have an area such as a federal campus ... the University should have no jurisdiction over that," he said.
Lucas added that more gun education is needed.
"Criminals would be more careful committing crime if they knew that more people were educated and responsible gun owners instead of sort of preying on a culture of fear," he said. Senior Brendan Morley said changes should be made to the assault weapons ban to close loopholes that allow gun makers to sell modification kits that turn semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic weapons.
"Basically, there are a lot of loopholes, and a single person can get a lot of killing power," he said.
Morley said the University should decide whether students can bring legal weapons onto campus.
"The school has its own security forces, so ... it should have the right to basically regulate what kind of devices and implements and contraband people can bring onto the property," he said.
He added that he favors more regulation of gun shows.
"If you can't get a gun from your local sporting goods store, you can go to a gun show and buy basically the same gun," he said.
Graduate student Emilie Cate said the assault weapons ban should be extended.
"As a general rule, I don't feel assault weapons have any business being in anyone's hands," she said.
She also said complete background checks and a lengthy waiting period should be required for people to buy guns, adding that she doesn't see a need for students to carry concealed weapons on campus.
parkerhowell@dailyemerald.com
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