Second Amendment

Second Amendment

"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."

Mcdonald v. Chicago

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Controversies

Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits mail-order sales and the interstate sales of firearms, prohibits transfers to minors, limits access to new assault weapons, and sets forth penalties and licensing requirements for manufacturers, importers, and dealers.

Presser v. Illinois

In 1886, the government banded armed parades in public. Illinois was one of the states that enacted on the ban which made it a crime for the people to ban together with weapons. In response, a labor organization was put together of mostly German immigrants and staged a parade with unloaded rifles.

Controversies

The Brady Act regulates the sale of handguns, imposes a waiting period of up to five days for the purchase of a handgun, and subjects purchasers to a background check during that period.

US v Heller

The District of Columbia law bans handgun possession by making it a crime to carry an unregistered firearm and prohibited the registration of handguns; it also says that no person may carry an unlicensed handgun, but it does authorizes the police chief to issue 1-year licenses; and it requires residents to keep lawfully owned firearms unloaded and dissembled or bound by a trigger lock or similar device. The district refused to sell Heller register a handgun that he wished to keep at home. The Court found that the Second Amendment does in fact protect private gun owners, and denying the rights was against the second amendment.

Why it was created/ important

The Second Amendment was added because in order to maintain a free state the people must have the right to keep and bear arms, "armed citizens is what keeps the government honest." The people wanted the Amendment because no government would try to take over with armed citizens.

Controversies

established strict registration requirements and a transfer tax on machine guns and short barreled long guns.