Four hundred Emporia State students have taken the gun survey that may affect legislation passed in Kansas.

ESU worked with Fort Hays Docking Institute and General Councils from the Board of Regents to bring the students of ESU a gun survey asking their opinion on concealed carry.

“My hope is that we get a better understanding of how students at Emporia State feel,” said Janet Weaver, president of Associated Student government and senior psychology major. “There’s a good chance our students are really worried and there’s a good chance that it’s not going to bother them at all and we can just let the chips fall where they may. However, if there is some worry or doubt, I want to make sure their (students’) voices are being heard up in Topeka.”

The gun survey was sent to ESU, Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Washburn University, Wichita State University, Fort Hays University and Pittsburg State University. The results of this survey could sway legislation for or against concealed carry on campus.

The survey also asked the student’s gender and political orientation.

“Well it (political alignment) often correlates and relates to opinions about gun issues,” said Michael Smith, chair of social sciences. “What I would look for, is if students depart from what you predict. For example, if you have a students who says ‘I’m conservative.’ and also says ‘I don’t think conceal and carry should be allowed on campus,’ that’s a unique finding. Typically we expect the conservatives to go with the gun rights.”

The second Amendment is a highly debated argument right now, and Joyce Theirer, associate professor of social science, says it no longer applies, to a certain extent, because the guns we have now are so much different than the guns they had in the 1700s.

“What bothers me is that when the second Amendment was added into the constitution, there was a difference in guns,” Thierer said. “Firstly, there were 12 steps to loading a rifle. A glock can fire and entire magazine and another clip in that time.”

There is also a difference between a rifle that takes time to reload and is usually used for hunting, and a gun that can fire off clip after clip, according to Thierer.

“I think we have far too many (guns), and far too many of the wrong kind,” Thierer said.

Jarron Ogles, junior education major, doesn’t believe concealed carry should be allowed on campus.

“If you have a gun in your hand, I feel like you have too much power,” Ogles said. “You can’t really control guns. A situation with a gun can go from bad to very bad, very fast. You really can’t give people that privilege to carry guns at school.”

Ogles also doesn’t believe teachers should be able to conceal carry, no matter their training. He doesn’t believe students would feel safe if their teachers had a gun and they didn’t.

“I know it’s a very controversial issue, but this is a great resource and a great opportunity for the students, as a whole-of Emporia State and Kansas universities as a whole, to state their opinions,” Weaver said. “I hope the students take the time to take the survey.”

The results of the survey will be open to the public in the early part of the spring 2016 semester.