Debate Prep: Should the United States Repeal the 2nd Amendment?

Cat Jacob
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This week, Political Union will be debating whether the U.S. should repeal the 2nd Amendment. Here are some resources to prepare for the debate. ​

First, the 2nd Amendment a general overview, with a rundown of the most common Constitutional perspectives – courtesy of the Constitutional Center with written opinions from both the American Constitution Society, and the Federalist Society, the premier groups on liberal and conservative Constitutional thought respectively. [8 min Overview, 7 and 9 minute positions]

• Key Supreme Court Case for Context Reading – A brief explanation of District of Columbia V. Heller, both opinions. [10 minutes]
• McDonald v. Chicago,  both opinions. [10 minutes]

 
Op-ed: Retired Justice of SCOTUS John Paul Stevens – Repeal the Second Amendment.
[5 minutes]
 
 Pew Research Center’s General Stats on Gun Laws ---- even more on data about Gun deaths.
[3 minutes]
 
A question on the frequency of mass shootings from the CATO Institute. [5 minutes]
 
A comparative approach reflecting on Gun Control between the U.S. and six other developed nations from the Council on Foreign Relations. [14 minutes]
 
A summary of a Federalist Society Review written by Stephen Halbrook, an attorney deeply involved in both Heller and McDonald outlining a historical basis for the scope of the 2nd Amendment. [10 minutes]
 
Op-ed: A Dean of the Berkeley School of Law’s defense of Gun Control under the 2nd Amendment. [3 minutes]
 
Op-ed: A modern take on the 2nd Amendment from attorney and correspondent Elie Mystal, “Time to Repeal and Replace the 2nd Amendment.” [7 minutes]