Is Gun Ownership a Right?

by Lea Sakora (Editor)

Overview

One of the most contested civil liberties of our time, gun ownership dominates the political, social, and educational debate forums of today. This critical edition takes a hard look at primary and secondary sources in order to analyze and present the topic from a variety of perspectives. Features from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, the Legal Community Against Violence, the Supreme Court, and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence amplify the details of this heated debate, offering readers a chance to analyze critical topics related to school gun-free zones, an individual's right to bear arms, the regulation of gun ownership, and public acts of violence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737744293
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	11/14/2009
Series:	At Issue Series
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 The Right to Own a Gun Is Guaranteed by the Constitution Antonin Scalia and the Reporter of Decisions 10

2 The Right to Own a Gun Is Not Guaranteed by the Constitution John Paul Stevens 14

3 The Intent of the Second Amendment Has Been Misinterpreted Don B. Kates 20

4 The Language of the 1700s Is Key to Understanding the 2nd Amendment Adam Freedman 25

5 Gun Ownership and Use Was Needed to Create, Expand, Maintain America Alex Massie 30

6 Political Pressure Determines Gun Legislation Benjamin Wittes 38

7 The Supreme Court Supports an Individual's Right to Bear Arms Tony Mauro 43

8 The Supreme Court's Support of Individual Gun Ownership Is Too Limited Radley Balko 48

9 The Supreme Court Supports the Development of Common Sense Gun Laws The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence 53

10 School Gun-Free Zone Restrictions Have No Effect on Criminals Benedict D. LaRosa 60

11 Gun Control Does Not Influence Criminal Behavior or Reduce Crime Rates John C. Moorhouse Brent Wanner 65

12 Public Acts of Gun Violence Do Not Change Opinions on Gun Control Pew Research Center for the People & the Press 71

13 State & Local Governments Must Overcome Federal Gun Law Deficiencies Legal Community Against Violence 76

14 Gun Ownership Should Be Privately Regulated Peter A. Gudmundsson 83

15 Both Sides of the Gun Debate Would Benefit from Compromise Rachel Graves 86

Organizations to Contact 90

Bibliography 97

Index 102

Editorial Reviews

Review: Is Gun Ownership a Right? "...this text keeps arguments even-tempered, information straightforward, and details unsensationalized."—Booklist

From the Publisher