Whether writing the Articles of Confederation in 1776 or watching the Columbine Shootings in 1999, the right to bear arms has been a public and political debate since the beginning of our nation. Who should have the right to bear arms? What laws can be passed that can effectively control guns, but not infringe the Constitution? Should there be certain gun laws for certain people or states? Will gun control laws lower the homicide rate in America? Will gun control laws keep guns out of our schools? These are all questions that have been asked since the dispute over gun control. There is plenty of time and money spent by lobbyist and other organizations to convince the United States Congress that gun control is the solution for America's murder problem or a violation of there second amendment rights. Either way, the people of America are split down the middle over this debate.

Quoted from the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment states, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of free state, the right to bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Gun collectors, hunting sportsmen, and people that own guns for protection do not be

Meltzer, Milton. The Bill of Rights: How We Got It and What It Means. New York. Thomas Y. Crowell Books. 1990.

2. ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Latest: March 30-April 2, 2000. N=1,083 adults nationwide. MoE +/- 3. Field work by TNS Intersearch.

Henderson, Harry. Gun Control. New York. Facts on File. 2000.

When the question of violation of rights is brought up, the Supreme Court has been involved and for the most part ruled against the "right for anyone to bear arms". As stated in the Constitution, the Supreme Court rules that the second Amendment does not give anyone the "right to bear arms", but in fact gives a militia in order to protect the State's freedom the right to bear arms. Cases such as Vermont vs. Rosenthal, North Carolina vs. Kerner, and Pepich vs. Department of Defense were all ruled according to this formal interpretation of the second Amendment.

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