2nd amendment research paper topics

• US Constitution: Right to the Second Amendment Words: 2456
• Second Amendment Controversy: Research Proposal Words: 596

Researching the Second Amendment: Key Issues and Debates in American Law

Choosing a topic for further research is always a challenge because it requires thinking it over and gathering as much detail as possible prior to the study itself, such as making up preliminary plans and identifying the desired outcomes. It should be the subject of interest, but, at the same time, there should be some background knowledge and gaps to fill while conducting the research.

As I started selecting the topic for my future research, I mentioned some issues of particular interest. The first one was the Second Amendment guaranteeing the right to own arms. This topic caught my attention due to the recent developments in the legal environment and opposing the right to possess guns. I wanted to get to the roots of the problem and find out why it became so acute.

The second potential topic was white privilege. I thought about this one when I came across the statistics of winning Oscar awards and realized that African Americans won them more rarely than white actors.

What interested me in studying it was the opportunity to discover whether similar statistics are the consequence of history and segregation of public life. Finally, I thought of investigating gender equality. I wanted to know how the perception of women’s role in society changed over time.

However, as I spent some time reflecting on these subjects, I decided that writing about the Second Amendment would be the most appealing and interesting topic. There are several reasons for choosing it. First of all, I love studying history, especially the origins of American society and state. Moreover, there are numerous views on the right to own arms.

So, I wanted to find how they changed over time and why the Second Amendment was adopted in the first place. Finally, I decided that it would be challenging to hypothesize on its future and any changes in the legal environment pertaining to it. However, reaching this objective would be impossible without filling the gaps in my knowledge of the history and current state of mind on the Second Amendment.

As for now, I am definitely a pro-Second Amendment. I believe that American citizens should be guaranteed the right to own guns because sometimes it is the only way to ensure the safety and wellbeing of an individual.

Furthermore, in my opinion, there is no relation between being eligible for possessing arms and crime rate because, basically, if a person bears malice, no law will stop them, but the law allowing weapons might save someone’s life. Besides, I assume that the right to own guns may be seen as one of the natural rights of an individual because, in fact, it signifies the right to life and safety.

Hopefully, I will find responses to all my questions while studying the topic. What interests me the most is whether there is a direct link between the crime rate and the right to own and carry guns.

In addition to it, I hope that I will discover why there are so many perspectives on the Second Amendment among scholars, historians, and politicians, and how to arrive at a common view, if possible. Finally, I hope to determine whether the issue is solely political or social welfare is also taken into consideration when debating over the future of this amendment, and its implementation into the legal environment.

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van Alstyne, W. (1994). The Second Amendment and the Personal Right to Arms . Duke Law Journal , 43 (6), 1236–1255. https://doi.org/10.2307/1372856

Blocher, J., & Miller, D. A. H. (2016). What Is Gun Control? Direct Burdens, Incidental Burdens, and the Boundaries of the Second Amendment. The University of Chicago Law Review , 83 (1), 295–355. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43741601

Churchill, R. H. (2007). Gun Regulation, the Police Power, and the Right to Keep Arms in Early America: The Legal Context of the Second Amendment . Law and History Review , 25 (1), 139–175. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27641432

Halbrook, S. P. (1986). What the Framers Intended: A Linguistic Analysis of the Right to “Bear Arms. ” Law and Contemporary Problems , 49 (1), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.2307/1191615

Kates, D. B. (1986). The Second Amendment: A Dialogue. Law and Contemporary Problems , 49 (1), 143–150. https://doi.org/10.2307/1191614

Kates, D. B. (1983). Handgun Prohibition and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment. Michigan Law Review , 82 (2), 204–273. https://doi.org/10.2307/1288537

Levinson, S. (1989). The Embarrassing Second Amendment. The Yale Law Journal , 99 (3), 637–659. https://doi.org/10.2307/796759

Williams, D. C. (1991). Civic Republicanism and the Citizen Militia: The Terrifying Second Amendment . The Yale Law Journal , 101 (3), 551–615. https://doi.org/10.2307/796867

Winkler, A. (2007). Scrutinizing the Second Amendment. Michigan Law Review , 105 (4), 683–733. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40041533

Yassky, D. (2000). The Second Amendment: Structure, History, and Constitutional Change . Michigan Law Review , 99 (3), 588–668. https://doi.org/10.2307/1290496

Big Think (Producer), & . (2019). The incredible history of the 2nd Amendment and America’s gun violence problem. [Video/DVD] Big Think. https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/the-incredible-history-of-the-2nd-amendment-and-america-s-gun-violence-problem 

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• URL: https://research.library.gsu.edu/secondamendment

Discussing Controversial Topics: The Second Amendment

In July of 2012, a g

Bill of Rights Institute Resources

• The United States Constitution
• The United States Bill of Rights
• District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)
• McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

News Resources

• Temple massacre has some Sikhs mulling gun ownership , FOX News
• Candidates show little appetite for new gun control laws , CNN
• Gunman Dies After Killing at Empire State Building , New York Times

Ac tivity/How to Use

• What right does the Second Amendment protect?
• No right in the Bill of Rights is considered absolute. What limits on firearms has the Supreme Court ruled are constitutional? What limits on firearms do you believe are constitutional?
• One group should prepare to argue that high profile shootings are reasons to increase gun control.
• The other should prepare to argue that high profile shootings are reasons to loosen restrictions on firearms.
• Speak courteously: No raised voices or insults.
• Listen courteously: No interruptions.
• Argue authoritatively: Use primary sources to support reasoning.
• Distribute “Questions to Consider” to help students prepare their data and arguments. The teacher may add additional questions during the debate to help clarify or extend arguments.
• Students will have to think about why they are for or against increasing or decreasing gun control.
• Students should use primary sources and facts to support their argument.
• Students should think about why the opposing group believes what they believe and be able to respond to that argument.
• Alternate which team answers the questions first.
• Allow students from the opposing group to ask clarifying questions if necessary.
• Give each group a time limit on each question to keep the debate moving.

Questions to Consider

What right does the Second Amendment to the Constitution protect?  Do you think this protection is necessary? Why or why not? Why did the Founders include the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights?  Do you think that their reasons are still valid today? Why or why not? What has the Supreme Court ruled about the meaning of the Second Amendment? Do you agree with their reasoning and conclusions? What types of restrictions have local and state governments put on weapons?  What laws have local and state governments proposed?  Do you support or oppose these restrictions?  Explain. What laws would you propose regarding gun control?  How do you think the public would react to your ideas?  Why do you think gun control is controversial? During the Empire State Building shooting, it is believed that police officers fired shots at the accused shooter and accidentally wounded nine bystanders.  A grand jury is now reviewing evidence in this case to determine whether the officers should stand charges.  How does this knowledge impact your understanding of the Second Amendment?  How does it impact your opinion on gun control regulations?

• After the debate, students should think about what they learned from reading the articles and debating on the the topic.  They should write a brief essay explaining what they learned and if their opinion changed after thinking about the issue.
• Students should research laws regarding guns in your state or community and then write a brief essay explaining one of the laws.  Examples may include limits on sale or ownership of certain weapons, concealed carry requirements, limits on gun purchases, or others. Their essay should include reasons the law was proposed or passed, what the final vote on the law was, and how the community reacted to the law.

Related Content

The Constitution

The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national government composed of 3 separated powers, and included both reserved and concurrent powers of states.

Bill of Rights: The 1st Ten Amendments

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. James Madison wrote the amendments, which list specific prohibitions on governmental power, in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.

McDonald v. Chicago | Homework Help from the Bill of Rights Institute

Does the Second Amendment prevent a city from effectively outlawing handgun ownership? In 2008, Otis McDonald attempted to purchase a handgun for self-defense purposes in a Chicago suburb. However, the city of Chicago had banned handgun ownership in 1982 when it passed a law that prevented issuing handgun registrations. McDonald argued this law violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges and Immunities Clause as well as the Due Process Clause. In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that McDonald’s Second Amendment right to bear arms was protected at the state and local level by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Gun Control — The Second Amendment in the United States

The Second Amendment in The United States

• Categories: American History Gun Control

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Words: 660 |

Published: Mar 20, 2024

Words: 660 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Historical context, interpretation, debates and controversies.

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