LEGAL MEMORANDUM No. 279 | FEBRUARY 1, 2021 EDWIN MEESE III CENTER FOR LEGAL & JUDICIAL STUDIES This paper, in its entirety, can be found at http://report.heritage.org/lm279 The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE | Washington, DC 20002 | (202) 546-4400 | heritage.org Nothing written here is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before Congress. Conservative Defense of the Second Amendment Falls Short: Needs-Based Defense No Longer Sufficient to Preserve Citizens’ Right to Self-Defense The Honorable Bob Barr America’s Founders considered self-pres- ervation to be a fundamental, natural right of all people, which they codified in the Second Amendment. KEY TAKEAWAYS Focusing exclusively on the needs aspect of the Second Amendment feeds the misplaced notion citizens must seek permission to exercise particular firearms rights. Conservatives may find themselves increasingly at odds with law enforcement as liberal lawmakers use police to enforce increasingly strict gun control measures. T he Second Amendment stands at a critical crossroad in America. The future of gun rights in America will likely be decided not decades from now, but within the next few years. It is imperative that conservatives, in particular, who historically have been strongly supportive of the right to keep and bear arms, understand not just the practical benefits to our society from a robust Second Amendment, but the philosophical founda- tions of gun rights as premised on the protection of our God-given, natural rights. Only with this well- armed, well-rounded expertise will supporters of the Second Amendment be properly equipped to mount a successful defense of such rights that increasingly are in danger from activists and politicians of all stripes and at all levels.
Conservative Defense of the Second Amendment Falls Short: Needs-Based Defense No Longer Sufficient to Preserve Citizens’ Right to Self-Defense
Jul 05, 2023
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