What is The Second Amendment?

Introduction

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution states is meant to protect citizens’ rights to bear arms against potential tyranny by their government. The amendment was written by James Madison in 1789. In a series of essays called The Federalist Papers, Madison explained how he believed the new government should work and why certain things needed to be included in The Bill of Rights.

Full Text

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.

James Madison

The Second Amendment was written by James Madison. Madison was a representative from Virginia, which had its own constitution apart from the national Constitution. The Second Amendment was based on the English Bill of Rights and Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, which stated that “the people have a right” for their safety “to keep and bear arms; that a well-regulated militia composed of the body of the people trained to arms is the proper natural and safe defense of a free state.”

James Madison fourth President of the United States and Author of the Second Amendment

A well-regulated Militia

The Second Amendment states: “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.” It has been interpreted by the Supreme Court as follows: “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.” Some historians believe that this provision was an attempt to prevent local governments from disarming their citizens. Others say it was meant to give state militias—such as those raised by Massachusetts during Shays’ Rebellion—the ability to defend themselves against federal troops if need be.

Modern interpretations of this clause vary greatly from one person or organization to another; some believe it applies only within state militias while others insist it protects hunting rights, and intruders on a property, all the way up to allowing individuals unrestricted access to assault weapons.

District of Columbia v. Heller

In June 2008, District of Columbia v. Heller (554 U.S. 570), was a landmark decision that overturned laws banning privately owned guns in Washington D.C. The Supreme Court ruled that “the Second Amendment protects an individual 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. The Court also struck down the Washington, D.C., handgun ban as unconstitutional. In a 5-to-4 split decision, the court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm for traditionally lawful purposes like self-defense. The majority opinion stated that “the inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right” and rejected any lesser standard based on whether guns are “typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes.”

Conclusion

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right of Americans to own firearms. The Second Amendment is one of the most controversial amendments in modern times. It was written at a time when Americans felt their rights were being threatened by the British government, and it has been an integral part of our nation’s identity ever since. The right of United States citizens to own firearms has been held up as a symbol of freedom by gun-rights advocates and as an obstacle to public safety by gun-control advocates. It is important to know what this amendment means for the country today so that people can understand its impact on society and politics in America.