Written Assignment 2

The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, are restrictions placed on the Federal government, either upon its relationship with its citizens, or with the states that constitute the United States. One of the more controversial parts of the Bill of Rights is the Second Amendment, which 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 infringed.” Does this protect the individual’s right to keep and bear arms, or does this mean something else? If being part of a “well regulated Militia” isn’t part of the responsibility to own guns, why is it the first clause? This question should be thoroughly examined in a 2-3 page, double spaced paper with conventional 1 inch margins, due at the beginning of class next Thursday, February 2.