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Questions tagged [second-amendment]

The Second Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to bear arms. Use to discuss the usage, meaning and implications. Use with the [united-states] tag and possibly the [guns] tag

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What is the argument for preventing tyranny that avoids gun violence?

I'm aware of the examples and debates of whether this works practically, but the theory as I understand it for the second amendment as a last defense against tyranny works as follows. Elect leaders ...
Tom's user avatar
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-3 votes
2 answers
222 views

Could the US ban all but one specific weapon?

Recent rulings determined Americans have the right to bear arms for protection. Since several weapons are already illegal to own, could that be extended so as to ban any gun that didn't conform to ...
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13 votes
4 answers
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Does the Democratic Party officially support repealing the Second Amendment?

Does the Democratic Party officially want to repeal the Second Amendment, or do they believe their gun control goals can be achieved within its proper interpretation? Please do not post your opinion ...
Someone's user avatar
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19 votes
4 answers
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Can the US government outlaw the buying, selling and manufacture of arms?

I know the US Constitution covers the right to bear arms, but can the government theoretically ban the buying, selling and manufacture of arms?
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34 votes
4 answers
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Why is the Second Amendment to the US constitution structured differently from all other amendments?

The Second Amendment reads as follows: 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. This can be ...
Alex's user avatar
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50 votes
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What percentage of mass shootings in the USA are actually stopped by ordinary gun-bearing Americans?

It has been hypothesized that the harms of mass shootings in the US could be mitigated or prevented by encouraging gun ownership and reducing legal obstacles to gun carrying. With approximately 400,...
Amazon Dies In Darkness's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
1k views

Why does Trump's response to Floyd George protests highlight second amendment rights? [closed]

In the linked video at around 35 seconds, we have a segment from Trump's speech at the White House before his walk to St John's Church announcing the presidential response to the Floyd George protests....
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If I get arrested for having a nuclear weapon, is my right to bear arms being violated? [duplicate]

If I were to build my own nuclear weapon, without the intention to detonate it, and got arrested for it, would my second amendment right be being be violated? This is assuming that I had it properly ...
Greenie E.'s user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
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Can the US Federal Government be considered to hold a State Monopoly on Violence?

I came upon the political science topic of State Monopoly on Violence and was ruminating on past and contemporary political structures, curious what a system where no party was afforded this monopoly ...
joshperry's user avatar
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6 votes
1 answer
327 views

Why are machine guns not subject to Second Amendment protections? [duplicate]

There is an argument that any control of weapons in private hands is forbidden by the Second Amendment. However there are several gun control laws that are seemingly unchallenged. Getting a tank with ...
Adam's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
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Do any 2020 Democratic presidential candidates support banning semi-automatic weapons?

In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida last year, there were a lot of calls on the left to ban all semi-automatic weapons. This post is an example of that. My question is, have ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
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3 answers
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What arguments do proponents of the second amendment use to conclude that gun ownership helps protect the people against the government?

It is said the reason for the second amendment to the US constitution is protection from an oppressive government. Should push come to shove, although hugely outnumbered in personnel numbers, the US ...
DMC's user avatar
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14 votes
5 answers
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How do "originalist" interpreters of the constitution cope with the 2nd 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. As far as I can see, from both the ...
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3 votes
2 answers
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U.S. constitution 2nd amendment and state militias

Was the Second Amendment right to bear arms intended to preserve state militias?
Curious's user avatar
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5 answers
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Why did the Supreme Court decide to disregard the prefatory clause of the 2nd amendment? [closed]

In order to better explain my incredulity, let me start with a simple legal thought experiment: Suppose there is a law that states "Driving near schools at speeds above 25mph is prohibited." Now, an ...
Pasha's user avatar
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15 votes
9 answers
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How are states supposed to protect themselves when the National Guard is under the federal government?

Recall the 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. Great, so states have ...
user541686's user avatar
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1 answer
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Why did Trump suddenly flip on the gun issue? [closed]

Trump seems to have suddenly changed his position on guns completely (source). What is the cause of this sudden change in position? And why now? In a meeting with lawmakers, President Trump ...
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77 votes
12 answers
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When was the Second Amendment last used to fight against the US government to protect people's freedom?

I was not born in the USA, and I am trying to understand the Second Amendment. My big question is: When was the last time US citizens made use of the Second Amendment and fought against the US ...
stopkillinggames.com's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

Under the US 2nd Amendment, are there limits to the size or type of firearm? [closed]

Are state of the art artillery pieces included, ICBMs, or the private ownership of nuclear weapons? If not, where is the limit in size and firepower drawn?
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19 votes
1 answer
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Could the second amendment be, well, amended? [duplicate]

Considering the criticism from some regarding the Second Amendment and gun control laws, supposing Americans voted that they didn't want the second amendment anymore or wanted it changed (by majority ...
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2 votes
1 answer
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Are there any government policies that meaningfully influence mass shootings per capita?

Which states have the most mass shootings per capita? Which states have the least? Mass Shooting: FOUR or more shot and/or killed in a single event [incident], at the same general time and location ...
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19 votes
2 answers
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What are the limits of the second amendment?

The second amendment of the US constitution 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 ...
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