Students speak up on possible changes to gun law    

Jayjon Burnett, a New York City public school student was riding the train Friday, October 14th just after 4pm in Far Rockaway, Queens when he was shot in the chest multiple times and died. He was 15 years old. 

When Burnett was killed, it was illegal to carry a gun on a subway. That may be changing. A New York law that makes it illegal to carry guns in some places, including on public transportation, is being challenged in court. This could have an impact on how students feel about getting to and from school everyday.

According to school aide, Susanne Ampuero, more than half of QSI high school students get Student MetroCards and take public transportation. 

Students had varying opinions about this issue and how a change in the law might affect them. 

“I’m still a minor, I won’t be able to carry that [a gun] around with me for my protection,” said sophomore Miriam Yagudayev. She explained that minors wouldn’t be qualified to carry a firearm in public places, so she would feel unsafe.

Some students, like Aaron Lee, a sophomore, don’t think that people being allowed to carry guns would change how he traveled. “If people had self-protection, I don’t think I would really care,” said Lee.

Junior Chris Leung thinks if the law was struck down, it would become something to be worried about. He doesn’t think there’s a need to bring a firearm into most places, but there are “some occasions where self defense is needed and there could be positive and negative effects if the law is struck down.”

Other students are more worried about the possibility that the law could change.

“I’ve never felt safe [on the bus],” said sophomore Abyaz Mahboob. “People with anger issues could just use them [guns].” 

Senior Arshdeep Kaur thinks that nobody should have the right to carry a weapon. She believes that if the law is struck down by the court, then she and most likely a lot of other people will feel a lot more unsafe using public transportation.

“I’d probably stop taking public transportation,” said Senior Dylan Goodman.