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The Constitution
When the Constitution was written, it lacked mention of individual rights. Ten amendments were immediately added to protect the individual citizen. Here are the first two:
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment
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.
Look carefully at the Second Amendment. It mentions that citizens have the right to bear arms. Some believe that this means that all citizens have the right to own guns. Others believe it means that people can only own guns when belonging to a Militia. Therefore if people are not in the military, they cannot carry guns.
What do you think it means? Does the amendment protect all citizens' rights to carry guns? Does it limit that right?
Next Printout: Reading: Guns in the U.S.