The recent shooting tragedies that have struck nation have caused government officials and even our president to question the effectiveness of laws protecting U.S. citizens. Thus, new gun-control laws have been proposed in hopes of preventing another tragedy from occurring.

But what are the gun-control laws proposing? President Obama is pushing new laws to investigate background checks for gun buyers in an attempt to curb gun violence. It is thought that if assault-rifle weapons are harder to purchase, shooting tragedies such as the one in Newtown, Conn., will be thwarted.

So the popular question has rolled down to how will all of these gun-control laws affect the students of the University of Iowa.

As of now in Iowa City, many Republicans are against gun-control laws and argue “to expand the firearm rights.” If there have already been countless tragedies involving gun violence, loosening laws regarding guns will not improve them or make them disappear. Gun violence can occur anywhere where gun laws are lax, and who is to say where another tragedy may strike?

Of course, many people argue that guns are a part of American freedom. However, shouldn’t this freedom, as with so many others, come with restrictions? As stated in the Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 9.1, the “use or possession on campus or at or during any university-authorized function or event of firearms ammunition or other dangerous weapons … is prohibited by law.”

On the UI campus guns are prohibited, as are any firearms. Chuck Green, the vice president for the UI police, said the university is bound by Administrative Code.

“No matter what the outcome is in Washington [regarding new gun-control laws], it will not affect how we address this issue on campus,” Green said.

The UI is bound by the Iowa Administrative Code regarding firearms on campus. However, the real questions is how will the gun-control laws affect Iowa and the city in which we live.