House Passes Gun Control Bills to Strengthen Background Checks

Every day we are inundated with arguments concerning the Second Amendment. Whether it is the various positions of the presidential candidates, referenda and bills in the several states, or comments from the numerous public interest groups on all sides of the issue, it is a conversation that is impossible to avoid. The Bill of Rights Institute has prepared videos, resources, and activities that will help you incorporate these topics into your classroom!

For much of American history, the Supreme Court had very little to say about the Second Amendment until 2008 when the Court heard arguments in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. Richard Heller challenged the city's total ban on handguns on Second Amendment grounds. The Court agreed with Heller finding the ban unconstitutional.

The Founders wanted to be sure they preserved the right to keep and bear arms as they established their new sovereign government. Americans asserted a natural right to defend themselves and their property against all threats, including tyranny of any kind, foreign or domestic. The Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights was included to reflect the concerns of many citizens in a number of states. This lesson explores the origins of this amendment.