LAW 580 - Second Amendment; History, Theory and Practice

Second Amendment: History, Theory and Practice: The Supreme Court’s decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and NYSRPA v. Bruen have ushered in a new era of Second Amendment interpretation, litigation, and politics. Issues concerning access to firearms, gun violence, gun safety, and self-defense are regularly in the news. This course examines the constitutional history, theory, and practice of gun rights and regulation in the United States. It covers the foundational Supreme Court cases as well as the broader historical and political debates in which they are embedded. The goal is to understand both the relevant legal doctrine and the context in which that doctrine is embedded.