Ratified in 1791 along with nine other articles of the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a controversial topic for millions of Americans. The Second Amendment is brief – one sentence with only 27 words:
“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.”
Exactly what the Founders meant by the amendment’s language and how that applies to contemporary American society have been hotly debated for years. Some individuals and groups call for stricter gun control measures, while others advocate for the preservation of their Second Amendment rights as they interpret them.
We asked Dr. Christopher Lawrence, chair of MGA’s Department of Political Science, to discuss this complex topic.
