The number of handguns owned in the District’s affluent communities, including Georgetown, has jumped in the last two and a half years.

Since the Supreme Court repealed the ban on handguns in D.C. in 2008, more than 1,400 handguns have been registered in the city. More than half of these registrations have been in western D.C. — 300 of the guns were registered in Georgetown and other wealthy communities such as Palisades and Chevy Chase.

Sam Brothers (COL ’14), lobbying director for the College Democrats was not surprised by rising number of handgun owners in affluent areas, particularly in Georgetown. He said that he is not personally opposed to gun ownership and has even been hunting.

“Responsible gun ownership should not be forbidden,” he said. “It’s really about the best way to implement gun ownership”.

Brothers said that although all members of the College Democrats identify themselves as members of the national Democratic Party, which supports gun control laws, members have differing opinions and sometimes disagree over policy.

Vail Kohnert-Yount (SFS ’13), president of the College Democrats, said that with the lift of the ban, new legislation should be put in place.

“For most people, their opinions have a lot to do with where they’re from or their experiences,” she said. “Obviously Democrats are for common sense gun control policy, regardless of the laws. Since [the law] was lifted and guns are now allowed, some kind of gun control policy needs to be in place”.

Joseph Knowles (COL ’12), chairman of the College Republicans, also said that there is a variety of opinions among and within the political groups at Georgetown. But he strongly emphasized the importance of the Second Amendment and the failure of gun control. Knowles said that the leniency of the gun control laws increases the safety of D.C. neighborhoods.

“It just keeps the community more protected,” he said.