By Nguyen Ta
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – As the 2024 presidential election approaches, students at Camden County College are talking about gun control strategies they hope the next president will implement.
The two major candidates running for president, Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, have completely different approaches to gun laws. Harris’s stance focuses on preventing gun violence by stronger control measures, while Trump focuses on protecting gun ownership rights with fewer restrictions.
“The biggest problem with gun regulation to me is mostly around balancing the right to bear arms with the need for public safety,” said politics major Hannah Ha Nguyen. Some recent debates have centered on background checks, mental health assessments and restrictions on certain types of firearms.
About the upcoming presidential election, Nguyen stated, “A candidate’s views on gun control definitely influence my vote due to my attention to public safety and fundamental rights. Given the rising concerns about mass shootings across the U.S., Harris’s stance on gun restrictions aligns more closely with my views.”
The Biden-Harris Administration has invested in school safety and trying to keep firearms out of schools. Their strategies seek to provide preventative solutions and address issues of people in crisis and mental health of students.
“As a student invested in public safety, I support stricter gun control measures and greater attention to background checks for those seeking to bear arms,” Nguyen declared.
However, to business administration major Catherine Sorto, Trump’s approach to gun policy makes sense. “He respects the individual liberty and freedom,” said Sorto. “Freedom holds profound significance in American’s society. It is the core value that shapes American identity.”
As to how important she thinks liberty is to Trump, Sorto said, “Despite just surviving an assassination attempt, Trump still protects gun rights. He wouldn’t hinder anyone. Those restrictions seem to be excessive for Americans.”