Gun Control
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
Supremacy of the 2nd
Amendment
by Justin Acres
Andrew Stone
BSEP: May 14, 2002
THE Central Issue
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
• The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution
answers all questions of firearm-related
issues in America
• “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” --2nd Amendment
What is the supreme law?
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
• America is a country with claim of the
Constitution as its supreme rule of law
• Yet, Congress and law enforcement continually
lambaste the Bill of Rights
• The Supreme Court has set a precedent of
Americans’ right to “Keep and Bear Arms”
Status Quo Policy
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
• Current Attorney
General John
Ashcroft, on May 9,
2002, confirmed
Americans’ rights to
bear arms
Supreme Court Rulings
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
• U.S. v. Miller (1939)
• U.S. v. Emerson (2001)
• U.S. v. Cruikshank (1876)
• Presser v. Illinois (1886)
• Miller v. Texas (1894)
• U.S. v. Verdugo-Urquidez (1990)
Philosophies on Gun Control
• The founding fathers’ intentions and wisdom are
clear in surviving examples of their records at the
Opening
drafting of the Constitution:
Central Issue
—Thomas Jefferson said, "No free man shall
Supreme Law
be debarred the use of arms."
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
—Patrick Henry said, "The great object is,
that every man be armed."
—Thomas Paine noted, "[A]rms . . .
discourage and keep the invader and the
plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the
world as well as property."
Facts
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
• Private firearms stop crime 2.5
million times per year --Dr. Gary Kleck,
Florida State University
• Utah, with free gun possession
statewide, has one of the lowest
crime rates nationwide
• An armed public is less likely to be
attacked than an unarmed public -NRA !
Opinions
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
Conclusions
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
Conclusion
• Gun registration schemes inevitably
lead to confiscation of firearms from
law-abiding citizens and the removal
of self-defense rights
• Gun licensing is focused on honest
citizens and therefore only penalizes
and taxes those that are not
responsible in any way for crime or
violence
Conclusions
Opening
Central Issue
Supreme Law
Status Quo
Rulings
Philosophies
Facts
Opinions
• Gun control isn’t an option because of the
Bill of Rights
• Any movement to enact legislation is
against the law
Conclusion
Credits: Justin Acres, Andrew Stone, John Ashcroft, Baloo, and Habeeb.