The Founders' Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms (Independent Studies in Political Economy)

Disclaimer: Long, thoughtful, politically incorrect post. Polite, constructive, thoughtful discussion welcomed. Stephen Halbrook's "The Founders' Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms" is an amazing scholarly review of the origins of 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution. Out of 450 total pages, this book has over 90 pages in citations alone. For any one participating on either side of the "gun" debate today, this book in my opinion is required reading. I admit, I like history. Especially U.S. history as it relates to the founding of the colonies, the revolutionary war, and the creation of the U.S. constitutional republic. This book describes life just prior to the revolutionary war and the oppression by the King of England. It also describes the discussions around the Bill Of Rights as they were not originally given in the U.S. Constitution but were demanded by the people at large. What I learned: - The text of the 2nd Amendment is to be read in two parts. The first half of the sentence preceding the comma is a politically declarative thought; the second half after the comma is an actionable statement as to what the government can never do. - The militia was always referred to as the people at large (aka the general citizenry). Standing armies were viewed as a threat to liberty. Having an armed society was/is the best prevention to any threat and is to preserve liberty. - Natural rights precede any government and are/were never granted by government. They are to be protected and never infringed. - Due to the oppression by the King of England, a declaration of rights was demanded by the people of the colonies. Always included in this was the right to keep and bear arms for the natural right of self-defense from any person, persons/groups, and for hunting. "Game laws" were used to limit/subvert the rights of arms by the people. - I agree with Thomas Jefferson in that the Bill of Rights did not go far enough to linguistically chain politicians and government down to make it difficult for the rights to be infringed upon. - Considering the Bill of Rights discussion, I would like to find another book which goes through the entire history of Bill of Rights from each of the colonies and the debates on each side. To my friends who are on both sides of this issue, this is a *must* read. You are doing all a dis-service by not reading it. (less)

If you want to know all about the 2nd Amendment, this is the book to read. This book takes you through the Revolutionary War and onward to the creation of the Constitution. You can understand the thought behind the Constitutions construction. By the end of the book you know what every word of the Second Amendment means. And also how it is laid in with the other parts of the Bill of Rights. This book is really well written. I can not imagine a better book to read on this topic, whatever your views on guns are.

This is as much a history book, as it is an investigation into the drivers behind the 2nd Amendment. Very objective, founded in facts. Truly an eye opening book if you are interested in honest American history and the second amendment.

This is a great book on the 2nd amendment. Gives a good history of how it came to be and what the founding fathers intentions were.

I wish everyone with an opinion about the Second Amendment would read the history behind those words. This is a superb book about the subject.

In some circles, a hotly debated book on the history of the second amendment

A very good read.

good book

material was in very good shape for being used. arrived when expected.

This is a great history of not only the 2nd Amendment but the founding principals of our country. If only we would teach this is school today!

Disclaimer: Long, thoughtful, politically incorrect post. Polite, constructive, thoughtful discussion welcomed. Stephen Halbrook's "The Founders' Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms" is an amazing scholarly review of the origins of 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution. Out of 450 total pages, this book has over 90 pages in citations alone. For any one participating on either side of the "gun" debate today, this book in my opinion is required reading. I admit, I like history. Especially U.S. history as it relates to the founding of the colonies, the revolutionary war, and the creation of the U.S. constitutional republic. This book describes life just prior to the revolutionary war and the oppression by the King of England. It also describes the discussions around the Bill Of Rights as they were not originally given in the U.S. Constitution but were demanded by the people at large. What I learned: - The text of the 2nd Amendment is to be read in two parts. The first half of the sentence preceding the comma is a politically declarative thought; the second half after the comma is an actionable statement as to what the government can never do. - The militia was always referred to as the people at large (aka the general citizenry). Standing armies were viewed as a threat to liberty. Having an armed society was/is the best prevention to any threat and is to preserve liberty. - Natural rights precede any government and are/were never granted by government. They are to be protected and never infringed. - Due to the oppression by the King of England, a declaration of rights was demanded by the people of the colonies. Always included in this was the right to keep and bear arms for the natural right of self-defense from any person, persons/groups, and for hunting. "Game laws" were used to limit/subvert the rights of arms by the people. - I agree with Thomas Jefferson in that the Bill of Rights did not go far enough to linguistically chain politicians and government down to make it difficult for the rights to be infringed upon. - Considering the Bill of Rights discussion, I would like to find another book which goes through the entire history of Bill of Rights from each of the colonies and the debates on each side. To my friends who are on both sides of this issue, this is a *must* read. You are doing all a dis-service by not reading it. (less)

If you want to know all about the 2nd Amendment, this is the book to read. This book takes you through the Revolutionary War and onward to the creation of the Constitution. You can understand the thought behind the Constitutions construction. By the end of the book you know what every word of the Second Amendment means. And also how it is laid in with the other parts of the Bill of Rights. This book is really well written. I can not imagine a better book to read on this topic, whatever your views on guns are.

This is as much a history book, as it is an investigation into the drivers behind the 2nd Amendment. Very objective, founded in facts. Truly an eye opening book if you are interested in honest American history and the second amendment.

This is a great book on the 2nd amendment. Gives a good history of how it came to be and what the founding fathers intentions were.

I wish everyone with an opinion about the Second Amendment would read the history behind those words. This is a superb book about the subject.

In some circles, a hotly debated book on the history of the second amendment

A very good read.

good book

material was in very good shape for being used. arrived when expected.

This is a great history of not only the 2nd Amendment but the founding principals of our country. If only we would teach this is school today!

A book that every gun owner should read and have.

I haven't finished the book, but I'm pleased with it so far. While it does provide plenty of end-notes, I'm finding it very readable as a historical narrative. The first section, "Disarming the Colonists," fills in a lot of details about the early secessionist movement, what caused it, and how it grew. It is a mostly chronological layout of when, why, and how the founders came to consider the right of private citizens to retain their arms to be a basic right of free people, going back to English common-law. While primarily focusing on the "arms" question, this book gives a good account of what sort of "outrages" finally drove the colonists into revolt; a revolt which would have been doomed to failure if not for the tenacity they exhibited in protecting their "right to keep and bear arms." Later sections cover the Revolution itself, and the creation of the Constitution. I haven't read so far yet, but, based on what I HAVE read, I expect those to be as well-written and informative as the first section. Highly recommended for serious students of the Revolutionary period, and the founder's intent on the "gun-control" question.

Excellent book, providing the historical background for the creation of the 2nd Amendment. The book delves into the events & thinking of not only the times and people in the Revolutionary War era but also looks at the phenomenology of reason behind early English law and popular thinking. This is all the basis of how our early American ancestors looked at the world, and helps us understand why firearm proficiency & ownership was so vital. Both in terms of helping secure the states and the country as a whole but also for personal security. After reading the book it's clear that our Founding Fathers intended the citizens of this country to have the right to bear arms. They couldn't imagine all that implies in the modern world, but that is somewhat beside the point of the book and of their way of thinking. We have the right to bear arms, per their desire. It is up to us, as law-abiding and sane citizens, to live up to that responsibility. It's a heavy ideal, but one that this country's forefathers fought to secure, just as they fought to secure all of our rights.

Buy it, read it, make your own decision on it. Some of the quotes that Mr. Halbrook include from the mid 1770s sounded like they could have come from people concerned about the Second Amendment today. The Bill of Rights rely on each other to a degree I didn't realize. Eliminate the Second Amendment and the First Amendment will eventually be taken away too. Very thought provoking.

Excellent book. Important information. Well researched and documented.

I never learned much of substance in my American history or government classes in public schools. (As an A+ student, I thought I was educated, but it turned out only "educated" the way they wanted.) Indeed, my journey into understanding liberty, especially regarding gun ownership, started after I graduated from high school. After a little research, I found out the schools, the media & the politicians were all lying to us. I have read other books by Halbrook, but this one is the most powerful yet. It slices through all the bull we have been fed over the years with historical facts about a people who loved liberty, who suffered for it, and who attempted to preserve it for us. (It is a shame how far we have fallen - gun control? fundamentally it is unconstitutional & therefore illegal). This book should be required reading in all American history or government classes. Upon reading this book students would have a much more complete picture what liberty is all about & what it took to get it back & what it takes to keep it. I highly recommend this book. I only wish I could afford to donate a copy to every student in my local school district.

Should be a required read for everyone especially those that would listen to the current political rhetoric.

Lawbiding Americans seem today to take for granted the rights that our founders declared for us to protect ourselves and our homes. Perhaps we need to open our eyes to see how we have become dependent on our police and judicial system to defend us when they today can't usually be there until after the fact. But the crooks can and are there, so guns tend to be outlawed or limited for private citizens and fear tactics used to deter individual citizens from bearing arms for self-protection and self-defense. This book is very useful in focusing on the source of the Second Amendment and why we are losing this right by apathy, fear tactics and unrealistic, outmoded beliefs in someone saving us from crime, insurrection, hurricanes, riots and other events which can bring out the worst in some of us today in the US. Will you be safe and trust others to be there for you without some way of protecting yourself and your family in the meantime? Hopefully, you won't have to find out!

If you love quotes and the United States Founding Fathers then you'll love this!

This work is an excellent scholarly treatise on the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution, its origin, environment and intent of those who supported this amendment. The arguments supporting a citizen's right to keep and bear arms at all times unregulated by the Federal Government are thorough and convincing. Most likely, few, if any, judges or liberals/statists in the judiciary, US Government or anti-gun organizations have or will read this book. The only problem with this book is that it is a book. With the internet, media and education, both primary and secondary, controlled by the far-left, a precious few will actually be able to discover this work and come to understand out essential right with regard to gun ownership. Somehow this needs to get into the schools beyond the leftist faculty. Clearly the American Revolution could not have taken place without private firearm ownership in the thirteen colonies. In fact the war broke out over a British attempt to confiscate private firearms and military supplies -- something somehow glossed over today. Part and parcel with private ownership of firearms was the citizen's right and duty to be a member of a local militia, not even a state militia, for the defense of life and liberty. Jefferson was a devout believer in militias, and promoted their maintenance and expansion to his dying day. But the militias could not be effective without private ownership of weapons and the citizens' becoming expert in their use. With respect to the exact wording in the Constitution, it should be noted that only "people" have rights, and the word "people" in "the right of the people" was clearly meant to be synomous with "the right of each citizen." The author's very scholarly work determines that beyond question. This is a very fine work and should be required reading before an individual can become a citizen. I recommend it to everyone, not just those wishing to retain their guns for hunting. The battle line has been drawn on whether the people will give up a constitutional right to the Federal Government who, like the British in 1775, would prefer the people to be fully disarmed so that the ruling elite would never have anything to fear from its subjects. Whether this book will influence those in power is a story for the future.

Mr. Halbrook presents a very well rounded and well researched treatise on why the Second Amendment is so vital to the liberties we enjoy in this country and why all of the Bill of Rights needs to be protected and understood in a proper historical context. Regardless of your views on this subject it is an enjoyable read and very enlightening. Highly Recommended!

This book is, quite simply, the most important book I've ever read regarding the second amendment. The author uses our founding fathers words, very heavily footnoted mind you, to relate what they lived through and what ultimatley became the 2nd amendment. This is not a novel and it doesn't read like one. It is hard core fact! You should plan to go slow and drink in the history, our founders words, their character and their intellect. I dare say, as I read the book, I felt ashamed of who we have become as a people, of how we've allowed our rights, so bravely fought for by people who risked everything, to be diminished and stripped away. Do you know who Crispus Attucks was? What was significant about gunpowder? What significance does April 19th hold? What does 'Militia' mean, as written in the 2nd amendment? Who was that Militia? What does 'Well Regulated' mean as written in the 2nd amendment? Answers to these and many more questions will be given in the first 1/4 of the book! Please, I beg you as a fellow American, buy this book and read it. You can't afford not to, and you will learn exactly what the 2nd Amendment really means. Please! Buy the book!

A must read for everyone

The perfect book for any Pro-2A argument.

I thought this was an excellent book that was extremely easy to read and engaging. Not only did it provide the history and intent of the Second Amendment it gave a nice back story to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as well. It also provided a minor glimpse into the personalities of the time. The only downside to the book is showing just how far we have gone from both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The latest rulings of the supreme Court being just that - the latest example of what it takes to ignore and destroy what America was founded upon and the trivializing of the sacrifices made by those heroic people.

The party line among gun-grabbers is that the Second Amendment is a collective right, that it refers to the states' rights to maintain a militia. The party line of intelligent gun owners, such as myself, is that it is an individual right. I am reading a very well researched book called The Founders' Second Amendment: Origins of the Right to Bear Arms by Stephen P. Halbrook. It traces the actual intent of the Founding Fathers and proves, by citation of letters, speeches and newspaper articles from that era, that the Founders meant it as an individual right. The argument is effectively solved in the book's introduction: The "right of the people" as used in the First, Second and Fourth Amendments are contrasted with such phrases as "the militia, when in actual service" in the Fifth Amendment and with the powers "reserved to the states respectively" in the Tenth Amendment." Then the book goes on for 420 pages more proof that the Second Amendment is an individual right, if anyone still has their doubts. The Second Amendment is very much in danger as of yesterday. Obama is surrounding himself with gun haters from the Clinton administration, and putting them in place at the highest levels - including his chief of staff (Rohm Emanuel), attorney general (Eric Holder) and secretary of state (Hilary Clinton). I urge people to write their representatives and tell them how they feel. I did, and I cited this book as recommended reading to all of them. MWD

Halbrook's book is an important contribution to the historical debate on the Second Amendment. He has collected a thorough record of the right to bear arms prior to independence and Constitution, demonstrating the long history of political theory and practice on the subject. The story telling itself, however, can be problematic. Such a thorough record gathering leaves less room for narration. The book is not an easy "read" and must be digested slowly.

This book has a wealth of sources that made my daughter's research paper much less daunting.

Carefully researched volume with assertions and conclusions validated with facts, references and historical accounts. By quoting out of context, an author can make any assertion he wants; there is none of that in this in depth account of the lives and statements of the founders of our nation. Very broad coverage; many historical characters in the writing of state constitutions and the conventions at a national level who are not commonly covered in the history we traditionally read are credited here.

I've been a follower of history, civil-rights, and the U.S. Constitution for many years. Steve Halbrook is among the top 10 scholars of our generation. All his books are worth reading, and keeping around for reference. An independent America was the last thing most Colonists wanted in 1770. The English subjects of the New World during this time were the freest, most prosperous people in the world, more so than most Englishmen in their mother-country, Great Britain. This was based in part on the freedoms they valued as Englishmen, their right to pursue any trade or endeavor they chose, and benefit from their own efforts. They were proud to be Englishmen, and valued their rights as defined in the English Bill of Rights of 1689. Few would have ever wanted to sever their relationship with their Mother Country. The Seven Years War (1754-1763) - Americans commonly call it the “French & Indian War” - opened up the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys to English settlements. There were issues between the British Crown and English Colonies regarding how to fund, govern, and protect the new frontier to the west. Most of the issues could have been negotiated and resolved peacefully. But the intransigence of the Crown, and a series of arrogant and oppressive rulings by the King and Parliament against the New World colonies, exacerbated the dispute. The Founders of the United States - some liberal, some conservative - attempted to reason with George III (1738-1820), King of Great Britain. They learned their Sovereign would not tolerate ideas, concepts, or evidence that differed from their King’s royal decrees and beliefs. King George was “offended” with his subjects effrontery in the New World, and sent General Thomas Gauge with an army of 3,000 armed troops to Boston to do exactly what the British did in Ireland and other British colonies; disarm all subjects, take control of commerce and trade, expropriate property, censor contrary publications, and enslave the population. “Slavery” was the word the Founders used. They were serious. These were learned men who were by and large well-schooled in history, politics, philosophy, and economics. They studied carefully which governments seemed to work, and why others failed. They knew throughout history that disarming the population was the first step to slavery. American settlers of the English Colonies saw themselves as “liberal,” and believed King George and the British Parliament were trampling on their rights as Englishmen. Efforts by the First and Second Continental Congress to peacefully resolve the conflict were summarily rejected by King George. It wasn’t until April 18, 1775, when General Gauge, under orders from the King, sent 700 armed British Regulars - with reinforcements ultimately 1,700 British troops - to Trenton and Concord to confiscate arms of the Colonists, that a shooting-war began.

Too many American have little understanding or appreciation for our Bill of Rights. This should be required reading for all patriotic Americans as well as Congress and the President himself. I do not care about your personal view on these topics, they are really not up for discussion! Its what our great Nation was founded upon and its best to understand the rules of the road. Live it, support it, or get out.

A lot of research was accomplished in publishing this book. A great Graduate school text about the history and reasoning of why we have the 2nd Amendment. For older readers, the print size could be larger. Very difficult for older eyes to read this book over any length of time.

Be prepared to read a footnoted treatise ad nausea, but convinced at the end that you completely understand the mindset of the founders in drafting and adopting the 2nd Amendment.

What a great read! Stephen Halbrook has done his research here. This book sets the record straight on why our Second Amendment is just as important today as it was yesterday. This book will also fill a great void in any Revolutionary War era aficionado's library as it is filled with, letters, correspondence, newspaper articles of the period. A Masterpiece!

The book itself is excellent. Thoroughly researched and presented. Clearly explains how the Second Amendment is an individual right. Every serious gun owner should buy or at least read this book. That being said, the e-version was obviously scanned from a paper copy and there are a few typos. I don't remember any place where you couldn't decipher what the original words were.

Great book! Too bad the mainstream media will not review it nor read it. I would recommend reading this, along with a copy of the US Constitution and perhaps the Federalist Papers to gain an understanding of who founded this country and their predicates.

Our half German Granddaughter, who goes to German International School, is doing her Thesis on the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. She is using many avenues for her research and ask us to obtain for her a copy of this terrific research book. The book has help her understand the thought process that went into its creation. This book will be a great tool for anyone wanting to understand the Second Amendment.

This book is a very well written and very well researched "Must Read" for anyone with even a passing interest in either the 2nd Amendment or the founding of this great nation. You'll learn what the Founding Fathers believed and what they intended for all of us. I highly recommend it to everyone, and it should be required reading at every law school in American and for anyone even thinking of getting into politics!

If you like know in the thoughts that were behind it all, this edition is a must have to your collection, a very thought provoking read you will enjoy

A great book that sticks to the reasoning behind the 2nd Amendment, and why the Founding Fathers thought that the right to keep and bear arms was a God-given right and not subject to ANY government intervention. Full of cross-references, it is hard to argue with any of these patriots and their insistence in protecting our rights at all costs. A MUST-READ!!

A well written, clear and exhaustive look at the Right to Bear Arms and its significance for all Americans. Highly recommend

The Founders' Second Amendment goes into detail about how the Founding Fathers viewed the need for citizens to have the right to keep personal firearms IN ORDER to keep government(s) from taking away our other rights. This principle applies as much in the 21st century as it did in the 18th century, maybe even more.

Good read.

The amount of work this book must have taken is startling. It is fairly big in size and has full citations for everything to easily refer back to the original source. It is a real eyeopening read. I would highly recommend it.

Although this may be a little dry at times, I found it DEFINITELY worth the read! A lot of our problems would not exist if this were required reading for every adult that wants to stay in this country. Then they could decide if Cuba or China might be a better place for them. I would recommend it if you want to understand WHY we need the 2nd Amendment.

Only one other book on the 2A even comes close. Halbrook is a diligent researcher and a fine writer. No polemics, just good scholarship.

I knew exactly what I wanted when I ordered this book, and I am very pleased with the dealer I purchased it from. The writer Mark Levin is to me and many Americans a beacon of Democracy, tells it like it is. The condition of the "Used" book I purchased is to me as good as "New". Would definitely use this dealer again.

This book was great. It was researched very in depth. It's a hard read though. There are alot of documents added. It' old English and alot of it is corspondence between gov's and the like. But if you want to know the truth I recommend this book.

This is a good read it will stir you to what the Government means to take from you MOLON LABE.

The content of the book is actually excellent, as many others have attested. My rating is for the Kindle ebook version presentation. This ebook has the most absurdly high occurrence of typos and errors (actually I'm pretty sure its uncorrected OCR scanning defects) of any Kindle book I have ever purchased. Seems I can barely turn a single page without finding issues in the text. For the price paid I think it is utterly pathetic that Amazon or the publisher or SOMEONE attached to this otherwise excellent and important volume doesn't hire an editor for a few hours to correct most of the issues. Ridiculous.

As I have always beleived , owning guns ia Right not a Privilage. And here's the proof in the pudding!

Great Information on our rights . I recommend every American read this book and should be required teaching in all schools!

Happy with this item, arrived on time, was as described and will do business with this company again.

my husband is loving reading the book- finds it great learning experience............

This is an excellent book for history buffs. A large number of the events parallel our own time.

Another book that should be required reading before anyone can be elected to public office. Especially before running for the W.H.

Know your 2A rights and how we earned them. A must read for all patriots.

I got this for my husband and he loves it!

Well written, well organized, an excellent treatise on the origins of the Second Amendment. If you want to understand the issues surrounding guns in America, this is the foundation necessary to that understanding.

A must read.

5 stars

Extremely informative with regards to the imtention of the Founding Fathers. It is absolutely and abundantly clear "the right of the people (not State) to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Easy read, gets points across, sound arguments.

The absolute best book on the 2nd Amendment yet, from the foremost authority yet...

Very interesting recount of the creation of the 'bill of rights'. What a ride! Looked for a while like the the job would never get done. Glad to see that the final result gives some assurance to the 'people' that we have some constitutional basis for protecting ourselves in self defense as well as from a tyrannical government (which we now have).

This book is fantastic. I has a lot of very valuable information that every 2nd Amendment lover should know. A must have book to add to your collection.

excellent read

Only about half way through it but its a very well researched and written book. If you want to understand the meaning of the Second Amendment, this is the book to read.

However the book suffers a bit from poor editing. Otherwise, an invaluable resource on the history and purpose of the 2nd Amendment.

Excellent book, Mr Holbrook is very knowledgable on the subject matter. It is very educational, and can be hard to read at times, but once you get through all the leagleeze, it is great. One of the best books I've read on this subject, and I would highly recomend it to anybody interested in the second amendment, and what it REALLY stands for.

This is book that every USA citizen should read to understand the second amendment and what it really means. Basically since about 1934, the goverment has been wrong with gun control laws to provide safety to the citizens. With every step to increase public safety, our future and freedom is comprised. Our founders knew this. Reading this book will let you know why they felt so concerned about the second amendment and the rest of the first ten amendments that are presently in danger of being eliminated.

Excellent read. The author goes into detail into why the Founders wanted to put in place the right to keep and bear arms. Would recommend to anyone who is interested on this subject. He definitely did his homework.

Very interesting read for someone outside America with little understanding of the subject.

Great educational read about what we inherited and are abusing. If we are not careful, we can loose it altogether.

The Bible for the 2nd Amendment!!!

Scholarly, readable, thorough and thoughtful. Great addition to Constitutional contemplation and library reference; very good analysis and comprehensive historical and jurisprudential presentation.

This info is not taught in schools anymore. No wonder the younger generations do not get excited when their rights are snuck away.

What can I say, its a book. But it arrived in excellent condition with no issues.

this author truly captures the intent and purposes of the 2nd amendment. He does a great job and his book is a great read.

An excellent, easily understood treatment on the historical foundation of the 2nd amendment. This is an indispensable work for anyone concerned with preservation of our constitutional republic.

Excellent contents, and this book is easy to read. Many issues are addressed. America, please educate yourselves, because ignorance can be costly.

Quotes from the 1700s can be difficult to understand due to the difference in the language of the time. This book describes why the second amendment came to be and why we need to protect it.

Every lib-tard and supposedly educated American should red this. If you happen to be an American, and believe that the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution are in fact the foundations upon which our country was built, this is good reading to help increase your understanding of what took place and why the documents were drafted exactly as they were.

not in as good condition as expected.

Not many authors are quoted as an expert on the second amendment by the Supreme Court of the United States, but Stephen P. Halbrook is THE expert for scholarly research. This book spells out the reasons why our founders recognized the right to bear arms as a pinnacle right to protect all the others. It gives the definitions of the words and phrases as the founders knew them to be. This book should be required reading in high school and if you haven't read it, you should. Current events dictate that you become educated on this subject.

This book isn't for everybody. For those to whom it's directed, it's excellent and I highly recommend it. In this review I'll try to help you understand whether this book is for you. To begin with, even if you're a gun enthusiast, you may not be interested in the political and legal details that influenced the Founders in writing the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This book delves into those details with enthusiasm (Halbrook is a lawyer, and a good one). Don't buy it if those would leave you cold. For those who want the details, however, this is an excellent source. Halbrook explains in great depth the growth of the "gun culture" in colonial America, and the efforts of the British government to stifle that culture. Most gun enthusiasts probably know that the American Revolution was triggered by a "gun confiscation" mission ordered by General Gage, which led to fighting at Lexington and Concord. However, Halbrook describes the actions that led up to Lexington and Concord, from 1765 on, including embargoes on shipment of gunpowder to the Colonies, seizure of gunpowder from Colonial powderhouses, and eventually the confiscation of all firearms in Boston. Halbrook gives only a brief treatment to the conduct of the Revolutionary War itself, except to note the importance of gunpowder smuggled in from the Dutch colony of St. Eustatia. However, the war is not his real focus. His emphasis is on how the Revolutionary War influenced the people who wrote the Constitution. Halbrook goes into great depth on the debate over whether the Constitution should have a Bill of Rights. On the one side were the Federalists, who argued that a Bill of Rights might eventually become a ceiling over Americans' rights, instead of a floor under them. Why, the Federalists argued, should the Government be forbidden to do certain things which the main body of the Constitution gave it no power to do? The anti-Federalists, who were unhappy with the idea of strong central government in the first place, demanded a Bill of Rights as a price for ratifying the Constitution. Halbrook goes into great depth on these arguments, quoting advocates from both sides. As it turned out, the Federalists got the Constitution they wanted, with a strong central government, but (supposedly) with only limited powers. The anti-Federalists got the Bill of Rights they wanted, although in retrospect it should be called a Bill of Limitations. Every article in the first ten Amendments is a restriction on the power of the Federal government, not a grant of rights to the citizens ("Congress shall make no law. . ."). One of the great strengths of this book is the description of how it turned out that way: who were the actors, what did they say, and how did they work for what they wanted. The assumption behind the book, of course, is that the intent of the Founders in writing the Constitution still matters. The Second Amendment, in particular, is not a thing of "emanations from penumbras," to be interpreted by the courts according to "modern conditions," but was the work of people who had to fight for their freedom from tyranny, and who intended that the means for that fight should never be taken away from American citizens. To those for whom that assumption is still valid, the book is an excellent resource on the history and reasoning behind the Bill of Rights, and the Second Amendment in particular.

Excellent book. It provides extensive documentation of the purposes of the Second Amendment. It was intended primarily to protect the right of individuals to own weapons to deter tyranny. Americans do have the right to own "weapons of war." Interestingly enough, owning arms for self defense and hunting was also considered part of the right by the founding fathers, as Halbrook documents.

This is an extremely thorough examination of the history and meaning of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. No other part of the Bill of Rights is as regularly maligned as the right to keep and bear arms. In this scholarly text, Dr. Stephen Halbrook provides a wealth of evidence proving that this important part of the Constitution was clearly intended by the Founding Fathers to protect an individual right, and that it is not referring to the National Guard and it is not (just) about hunting, as many gun rights opponents falsely claim. The author chronicles numerous quotes from the Framers of the Constitution, the Constitutional Convention, and the state ratifying conventions. He also examines the meaning of the words of the text and compares them to similar phrases in the Constitution. Some of the conclusions are these: Militia refers to the whole people, the British (and many others) have used gun control to subjugate the population, 'an armed populace was the cornerstone of the ideal polity ...', there was no controversy among the Founding Fathers about the importance of an armed population for securing liberty, an armed citizenry would prevent a federal tyranny, the European monarchies were afraid of an armed populace, and only individuals have rights whereas the United States and various states have powers. There are many other important points in this fantastic book. I highly recommend it.

Every history teacher, lawyer and politician should be required to read this book. It is also recommended to be read by every citizen who exercises his/her right to vote. Stephen P. Halbrook has written a very factual, well annotated, book about the origins of the Bill of Rights and particularly the 2nd Amendment. He gives the history of the lives and conditions that lead to the colonists taking up arms in a revolution against the tyrannical policies of George III and he does it using the words of the original founding Fathers themselves. The book is well researched and with many direct quotes from those who lived it. The 18th century English is a bit hard to read at times, but well worth the effort. No one, after having read this book, could possibly argue that gun control laws are in any way legal or constitutional. The right of a 'free man' to keep and bear arms was so well understood by the colonists during the time of the American Revolution and the writing of our Constitution and Bill of Rights that there was absolutely no discussion or controversy over the 2nd Amendment. Interestingly enough, all the arguments and controversy were about the 'freedom of religion' clause in the 1st Amendment. Many wanted that clause to specify protection for the Christian religion only. Others would limit it even more to Protestant Christians only. So much for the recent quote from Obama during his recent tour of Turkey, "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation..." History had already taught the colonists from as far back as the Roman Legions or the writings of Cicero and as recent to them as the example of the Privy Council of the Ottoman Empire ('These Turkish rulers were considered perhaps the world's most absolute despots') that the first step in enslaving the people of a country was to disarm them. That fact is no less true today than it ever was. It becomes very clear while reading this book that the founding fathers intended the 2nd Amendment to be an individual right and that the purpose for it was to insure that the federal government could NEVER grow so big as to not listen to and not be ruled by the will of the people. We were all taught in school that a people who fails to learn and remember their history are doomed to repeat it. This book is our history and unfortunately, most do not know it. Excellent book. Wish I could supply every high school student in the country with a copy.

This book is an EXCELLENT factual and historical illustration that the Founding Fathers FULLY intended that the right to keep and bear arms was an INDIVIDUAL right that government had NO right to infringe upon. It also makes clear that the purposes of keeping and bearing arms were (and are): 1) self defense against criminal actions (including defending your family and others who you may witness being victimized) and 2) to assure that the People had the collective ability to overthrow the government should it overstep its bounds and become tyranical. The Founders had seen that the British tried to disarm the colonists in order that they might maintain tyranical rule over them and they had the common sense to forsee that the government could again become tyranical in the future, so their intent was to provide the "ultimate check and balance" -the power of the people to rise up and overthrow such a tyranical government - something that would be impossible for a disarmed populace. Read this book and you will understand the thoughts and views of the Founders - and you will also understand why the socialist liberals are so intent on disarming us ... it has NOTHING to do with "safety" ... states with permissive laws on "right to carry" have far lower violent crime rates than the states with the most restrictive (and unconstitutional) gun laws. Please read this book with a thoughtful and open mind.

Cherry-picked quotes from historical documents used to draw heinously flawed conclusions. This book is great if you want to read the exact opposite of what the founding fathers intended when they discussed firearms prior to the drafting of the Bill of Rights. As such, I’m continuing to read it. Though, a nip of whiskey every other page is required to keep the blood pressure down. There are countless other books available with more accurate analysis surrounding this period in American History. If you think this is a great book, Amazon also carries a plethora of “Don’t Tread on Me” products... knock yourself out.

Want some insight into why the 2nd Amendment was incorporated into the Bill or Rights & why it's worded the way it is? Read through this book and the fog will lift. This is a well-written, scholarly study. It is heavily sprinkled with citations and end-notes so you can do your own direct research should you choose. Regardless of how you may feel about the 2nd Amendment I suggest you consider arming yourself with facts so you can support your conclusions. You'll find a lot of them in this book.

The image of this book states "updated edition". I checked author's website, The Independent Institute website and Rowman & Littlefiled website and none of those websites listed this book as a new release.

I was attending a book club discussion about another book, which was anti-gun, and I wanted to prepare myself by understanding the real origins of the second amendment. I got lucky in choosing this book. It is well-researched and includes tons of references. The words of the founders themselves make it clear what they meant by the amendment: an individual right to keep and bear arms.

This book chronicles the entire basis for the Second Amendment from the lead up to the American Revolution through the writing of each State's Constitutions and Bills of Rights and the United States Constituion and Bill of Rights. Specifically, it traces the historical right of all citizens to keep and bear arms for their own defense and protection as well as the protection of the nation. This book is a must read for ALL politicians or those aspiring to politics. In fact, I would say it is a must read for ALL Americans period!! Believe me, a lot would change in our real world politics if they would do so.

Halbrook has again proven himself to be a thorough scholar. This book is a well-researched and documented treatise on the right to bear arms as viewed abd described by the nation's founders. I encourage all readers (for or against gun rights or on the fence) to study this book.

This book is very well written and provides a very well researched and educated history on the second amendment. Gun owners should definitely make this a part of their investment. Anti-gun people should take the time and read this and become educated to the roots of our rights.

Stephen Halbrook: Author, is truly an inspiration to all of us who I do believe took the time and significant effort to get the Facts right, pertaining to OUR Founding Fathers and the British Americans in what they had to endure to obtain Freedom and Liberty! It's a book that I Hope a very large segment of the US population hears about and then reads!! Without Question, We as Legal US Citizens do have a Constitutional Right TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS, Contrary to what the Media and the current Members of Congress and the Obama Administration want you to believe. Sincerely, Paul Magestro.

"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." ~ V for Vendetta. In todays terror filled climate the US government will go to whatever lengths needed to deny a citizen the right to keep and bear arms. The fact of the matter is taking away a persons right to defend their loved ones and property is a governments first step towards authoritarian dictatorship. Citizens should be warned that once a basic right, set down by our founding forefathers, is taken away from them it is almost impossible to get back.

Stephen Halbrook details the thoughts and writings of the Founding Fathers and others when they proposed and passed the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Much has been written about the First Amendment, and the rights that affords, but many people fail to realize that "the Second protects the First". A look at history confirms this. Halbrook has done a wonderful job setting forth the reasoning and historical steps behind one of the main cornerstones of our freedoms.

Professor Holbrook's well writen treatise is an eye opening compilation of historical and legislative evidence that sheds bright light on what has remained an obscure part of constitutional discourse. Dr. Holbrook's book belongs on the shelf of every college and law school in America and perhaps its most important place would be in the hands of those judges and justices who decide the validity of this nation's vast network of gun laws.

Good analysis of our Second Amenent from a historical perspective.

I rented this book from the library, and would certainly buy it now if I could. Didn't read other reviews, but know the book is well written and well documented. Has good and thorough analysis of "arms" in American thought from 1760's through the Militia Act of 1792. Induced thought about the second amendment, and did his job in convincing me of an individual right. Recommended.

This book is well written & shows not only our historical roots, but also what the founding fathers meant when they added the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. It was not frivilous words - they meant citizens to be able to rein-in an over-grown, out-of-control government that is taxing us & our grandchildren too much.

My order was easily placed. Delivery was fast. Thanks, Amazon.com The book is precise. Easy, to understand. Well written. It is not subjected, to Politically Correct Misconceptions. A good learning tool and is very self-evident. It reveals the true meaning, of the Second Amendment. It should become, a best seller. Every real American should have a copy. Even, as a turn to, self defense weapon.

An incredible compilation an interesting account of how the second amendment was formed. A factual acount of the foundation of the second amendment that lays to rest most of what it's opposition uses to argue against it. A must read.

I recommend this book. It is very informative. I am ordering a few more copies for friends!