The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Or, don't touch my gun.)

Posted by Steve Jackson on Jan 20th 2024

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Or, don't touch my gun.)

The Second Amendment: “A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right to bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This amendment was instituted to bar the federal government from infringing upon the rights of the citizen to own a gun. It is a natural right to be able to defend yourself, your family and your property.

The militia at that time could use any weapon the private citizen could bring to the fight. In modern times the military needs trained warriors not an individual’s weapons. But the natural right to self-defense remains even if it is “just” to be able to target shoot, hunt or ultimately to defend against a totalitarian state.

For the record, the United States is the only country to incorporate this right, with no restrictions, in its federal constitution. This right was most recently affirmed in 2008 in the U.S. Supreme Court case of The District of Columbia vs. Heller. However, it is also the right of the individual state to regulate that right if it so chooses. It is a fine line sometimes when the definition of “regulate” crosses “restriction” within the various American states.

The Second Amendment was signed at the same time (December 15, 1791) as the entire Bill Of Rights that encompassed the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Sources:

NRA-ILA.org
businessinsider.com
constitutioncenter.org

Corrections and suggestions are always welcome. 

Visit our sister web site, Bounce Back at bback.us, to read more about American Civics.