LAW 580 - Second Amendment; History, Theory and Practice

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The Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago have ushered in a new era of Second Amendment theory, litigation, and politics. Current events keep issues of firearms, gun violence, gun safety, and self-defense constantly in the news. This seminar will explore the Second Amendment and the various state constitutional analogs historically, theoretically, and pragmatically. Students will be introduced to the historical and public policy materials surrounding the Second Amendment, the regulatory environment concerning firearms, and the political and legal issues pertaining to firearm rights-enforcement and policy design. Student evaluation will be based on shorter writing exercises (including reaction papers, blog posts, and op-eds) or an optional research paper, as well as in-class participation.