In a random survey of 100 Morton students, 23 said that people do have the right to an assault weapon. 

An “assault weapon” refers to a semi-automatic gun designed for military use and battlefield purposes. Gun control activist, lawmakers, and governor J.B Pritzker signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act banning the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in Illinois starting January 2023. The House voted 68-41 to approve the ban on January 10. The bill passed 34-20 in the Illinois Senate on January 9th. Other states like California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York have also enacted laws that generally ban the sale, manufacture, and transfer of assault weapons. According to BritannicaProCon.org “should more gun control laws be enacted” there are many pros and cons underlying this issue, like a pro would be more gun control laws would reduce gun deaths and a con would be gun control laws do not deter crime; gun ownership deters crime.  

“The perception of benefit rests on immediate gain: reduced shootings and the saving of human lives. Politicians gravitate to this point because there exists a great number of people who place pressure on politicians to solve a crime problem or a ‘gun problem.’ I understand the need for politicians who want to solve the problems that exist in our society. That is exactly what their job entails. No one is asking this, more important, question: ‘Why do people want to shoot other people?’ The largest number of killings exist as ‘gang crimes.’ They are crimes related to drugs and territory. This is where the most killings occur. Regarding the other mass shootings, we need to look at: a) an insufficient mental health system and b) reflect on a society that does not value life. Banning semi-automatic rifles does nothing to address the underlying issues in our society. So, it is a bad idea to ban them,” said Mathematics teacher Mr. Mark Karadimos. 

77 students agree with a ban on assault rifles; Freshman Lesly Gonzales had a few words to say. 

“I didn’t even know that a ban was passed recently but it feels better knowing that people can’t legally have those guns now. People have no reason to own guns like that and those should probably only be used in military combat,” said freshman Lesly Gonzalez. 

Many parents have their own opinion on this matter. 

“I think it’s great that this state is trying to lower rates of gun violence by banning these guns. As a mother in this country, you can grow paranoid and worry for your children’s safety after seeing so much news spread about school shootings that occur. We can never be too safe so getting rid of these guns will be good,” said parent Maria Rios. 

Another parent, Juana Alvarado, had a similar opinion. 

“Pues yo pienso que esas cosas no se deben de andar comprando mucho menos los menores de edad porque no saben ni lo que estan haciendo,” said parent Juana Alvarado.