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.
The United States is in a fairly unique situation in the world, in which gun ownership is not only common but legally enshrined in a founding document. Guns are used for sport and hunting, as collectible items, for law enforcement and personal protection, but also frequently as tools for assault, homicides and mass murder, and suicide. Proponents of gun control seek to limit these latter negative impacts of guns by making purchases more restricted and deliberative, while advocates for gun ownership lean on the "shall not be infringed" phrasing to push back on those limits.
General Concepts | Specific Aspects | Related Issues |
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Second Amendment | Right to bear arms | see also: state laws, ordinances |
Racism and gun laws | ||
Gun control | Licensing | |
Background checks | ||
Gun-free zones | ||
Campus carry | ||
Concealed carry, open carry, permitless carry | ||
Types of guns, gun parts |
Assault rifles, hunting rifles, handguns Fully automatic, semi-automatic 3D-printed guns |
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Purchases |
Gun shows Private sales |
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Storing guns |
Gun safes Biometrics |
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Gun violence | Mass shootings | |
School shootings |
armed teachers active shooter drills clear backpack policies gun-free zones |
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Suicides, homicides | accidental deaths | |
Uses of Guns | Self-defense |
Stand Your Ground laws Castle Doctrine |
Sports |
Hunting Target shooting |
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Collectibles | Historical memorabilia | |
Violence, crime, warfare |
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This page was originally developed by Elaine Patton.
First published: March 2024
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