Why Is The Second Amendment Important

Do people today really need to have guns? The second amendment was passed by Congress September 25, 1789 but was added to the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791. The 2nd Amendment is about the right to bear arms and often referred to as the “Right to Bear Arms Amendment.” The second amendment states that “a free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies” (The United States of America Constitution). Allowing responsible United States citizens to bear arms is still needed today. George Washington was the first American President and served in office from April 30, 1789 to March 4, 1797. One of the key events during his presidency was the ratification of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. The first ten Amendments to the Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, which includes the 2nd amendment, is one of the foundations of …show more content…
In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision that held the amendment protects an individual right to possess and carry firearms. In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court clarified its earlier decisions that limited the amendment's impact to a restriction on the federal government, expressly holding that the Fourteenth Amendment applies the Second Amendment to state and local governments to the same extent that the Second Amendment applies to the federal government. Despite these decisions, the debate between various organizations regarding gun control and gun rights continues. However, the amendment has continued to adapt to the different time periods of our country and create safety for our