With the outbreak of mass killings during the past year, many legislators across the country are turning to gun control as a solution to the violence epidemic. According to a news report by The Town Talk, Louisiana’s Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu was among those who voted April 9 to move forward with a proposal to implement more extensive background checks for gun sales. The bill has earned considerable opposition in Louisiana since its introduction to congress. Sen. David Vitter voted against the measure, fearing a universal gun registry would later develop. On April 8, a pro-gun rally was held on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol in defense of the Second Amendment. According to a press release, Tuesday, May 7 the Louisiana senate passed a bill that will prohibit Louisiana from enforcing any federal restrictions on semi-automatic weapons. The bill was approved by a 4-1 vote. Despite such strong statewide opposition of stricter gun control laws, professors and students pointed out the potential consequences that could result from allowing unrestricted access to firearms. Sociology professor Rebecca Hensley believes that the Second Amendment is outdated and no longer a necessity in modern society. “We were living in an era back in the 1700s and early 1800s where we really were on our own,” said Hensley. “We really needed a rifle. Now, we’ve been so used to that, that we don’t realize that the rest of the world has left us behind in that sense.” Mason Castello, a freshman nursing major and gun owner, believes that more extensive background checks should be implemented when allowing citizens to purchase weapons. Castello owns a Bushmaster .223 semi-automatic rifle, the same model used by Adam Lanza in the Newtown, Connecticut shooting. “I don’t believe that [guns] should be banned all the way, but gun control definitely needs to be strengthened,” said Castello. “I think that a background check should be applied to anyone who tries to buy a weapon. It doesn’t matter what kind of weapon. Any criminal record or any type of mental problems that could affect the person using the gun, they shouldn’t be allowed to buy.” When asked about the consequences that resulted when a rifle of the same model as his own fell into the hands of Lanza, Castello said,