Second Amendment to the United States Constitution

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The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the United States Bill of Rights and protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was ratified on December 15, 1791, along with the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

Text

The text of the Second Amendment reads:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Historical Context

The Second Amendment was influenced by the English Bill of Rights 1689, which established the right of Protestants to have arms for their defense. The framers of the Constitution included this amendment to ensure that the federal government could not disarm the citizenry, which was seen as a safeguard against tyranny.

Judicial Interpretation

The interpretation of the Second Amendment has been the subject of significant legal and political debate. Key Supreme Court cases include:

• District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) - The Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm, unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.
• McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010) - The Court ruled that the Second Amendment is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and thus applies to state and local governments.

Modern Debate

The Second Amendment remains a contentious issue in American politics. Advocates for gun rights argue that it guarantees an individual's right to own firearms, while proponents of gun control argue for regulations to reduce gun violence. Organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence are prominent in this debate.

Related Pages

• United States Constitution
• Bill of Rights
• District of Columbia v. Heller
• McDonald v. City of Chicago
• National Rifle Association
• Gun politics in the United States

See Also

• Firearm
• Militia (United States)
• Gun control