| Young Adult Nonfiction |
| Politics & Government |
| Social Science |
Summary
Summary
The United States has the most guns per capita of any country in the world. Many Americans value the right to bear arms, which they believe is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Others believe that the Second Amendment only guarantees the right for organized militias to own guns. This book surveys the history of the Second Amendment and gun ownership in the United States, and explores how the amendment continues to affect us today.
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 6-9-These well-written, objective, and informative introductions to the Bill of Rights discuss the historical reasons for each amendment, its basis in British and American common law, and the statutory and case law that shaped its implementation and development. The authors include differing viewpoints about the scope and definition of each of these protections and analyze how they affect modern society, law, and government. Sidebars and large, captioned photos and illustrations supplement the texts. While primarily useful for reports, these books will also give students perspective on current events. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Covering what has become the most controversial provision in our national charter, this entry in the Amendments to the United States Constitution: The Bill of Rights series offers a methodical account of the historical background of common gun ownership, the Second Amendment's formulation, and a firearm-centric history of the U.S. over the ensuing 200-plus years. Rather than debate the issues, Gerber opts to record relevant developments in technology and social attitudes, significant historical incidents, and legislative and judicial landmarks from the original Bill of Rights in 1791 to the Supreme Court's 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller decision. So focused on staying neutral that he doesn't even cite gun-crime statistics, the author dishes up a dry recitation that will have value as preparatory reading for Tamara L. Roleff's older but more intellectually engaging Gun Control (2007). Occasional sidebars and an assortment of photos or period images punctuate this survey, and generous lists of organizations and further reading round it out.--Peters, John Copyright 2010 Booklist
