Kansas is by no means a state that likes gun control. On July 1, a law will be enacted that permits Kansans 21 and up to carry concealed firearms in public buildings without a permit or training. This includes public universities, which has been a huge concern for some.

“….On campus, sexual assault is a big deal and it just facilitates that if you have a firearm,” senior Cinthia Romo said.

The only exception are buildings who can provide security measures like metal detectors or armed guards. Many facilities have said that they’re not able to afford these measures and can do nothing to gain exemption from the law. However, gun control advocates are fighting back. A bill was introduced Jan. 17 that would allow colleges and universities to keep concealed firearms off their campuses.

And it’s not just Democrats pushing for this change in regulation. Republicans are also advocating for colleges to be exempt from the law. Republican Stephanie Clayton of Overland Park introduced the legislation and many moderate Republicans support her. With many conservatives having been voting out in November, the bill has a much larger chance of passing this year than it did last year.

Some agree that the law should be enacted in July and say it will have a positive impact on the state. Many proponents argue that a person can assure their own personal safety by carrying a gun and guns will be in the wrong hands no matter what is done, so people might as well be allowed to conceal them.

“I personally believe this enactment will actually help school shootings and mass shootings in general because where guns are popular there are less mass shootings because a terrorist wouldn’t go after a lot of people with guns. It’s pointless for them,” sophomore Dayden Rudy said.

Others argue that concealed weapons endanger countless lives, especially when it comes to college campuses. They say gun use for self-defense is not effective enough for the risks it brings.

“I think it’s very unsafe and that it’s going to cause a lot more violence than it will good because there needs to be regulations. I think it’s more dangerous than alcohol even is and if they’re going to make the age for legal drinking 21, then I think they should make the age for carrying a concealed firearm a lot older because…there needs to be a lot of preparation for the person to have the maturity to hold on to a firearm,” freshmen Lily Widener said.