Overview

The discussion of the meaning and interpretation of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution has become central to public discourse. But with unmediated news sources and fake news abounding, it is difficult to grapple with the issues without an unbiased guide. This series of books aims to inform the interested citizen of the Framers' ideas that underpin each amendment, along with their subsequent history, illustrated with some easily accessible examples from popular culture. The Second Amendment ""A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."" An imposition or a privilege? Does the Second Amendment to the Constitution confer a right, or impose a tax? The argument goes back and forth, on and on. This little book takes a cool look at the historical and philosophical underpinnings that informed the Framers' writing, the political needs at the time the Amendment was written, and the way in which it has been construed by parties of all sides since. Robert McWhirter employs a witty, light touch that manages to relate the arguments around the Amendment to its interpretation in popular culture and belies the deep scholarship and research that underpins the work. The book is an invaluable source for students of the history of the Constitution as well as providing an entertaining guide to the discussion around the intended meaning and subsequent interpretation of the Second Amendment for the interested citizen. On the journey through time there are illuminating and surprising diversions into the history of literature, religion, film, sports and popular culture. This book originally appeared as chapter two of Bills, Quills, and Stills: An Annotated, Illustrated, and Illuminated History of the Bill of Rights.

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9781945682025

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Reviews

"""Brilliant, in-depth, and entertaining history of our rights. The illustrations and manner in which history is presented makes the information easy to read and understand. ...[A] go-to when I want to fact check what a politician is saying about the Framers. History lovers and non-history lovers will love it!""--Amazon.com ""A great book that appeals to all ages interested in an unbiased history of our country's founding fathers and their objectives. It has great coverage of famous British cases, whose outcome was abhorred by the American colonists and who, as a result, insisted that the constitution provided express safeguards prohibiting similar violations of individual rights in America.""--Richard Coffinger, Attorney-at-Law ""Encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past.""--George T. Anagnost """"Arizona Attorney"" magazine """

Brilliant, in-depth, and entertaining history of our rights. The illustrations and manner in which history is presented makes the information easy to read and understand. ...[A] go-to when I want to fact check what a politician is saying about the Framers. History lovers and non-history lovers will love it! --Amazon.com A great book that appeals to all ages interested in an unbiased history of our country's founding fathers and their objectives. It has great coverage of famous British cases, whose outcome was abhorred by the American colonists and who, as a result, insisted that the constitution provided express safeguards prohibiting similar violations of individual rights in America. --Richard Coffinger, Attorney-at-Law Encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past. --George T. Anagnost Arizona Attorney magazine

A great book that appeals to all ages interested in an unbiased history of our country's founding fathers and their objectives. It has great coverage of famous British cases, whose outcome was abhorred by the American colonists and who, as a result, insisted that the constitution provided express safeguards prohibiting similar violations of individual rights in America. --Richard Coffinger, Attorney-at-Law Encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past. --George T. Anagnost Arizona Attorney magazine Brilliant, in-depth, and entertaining history of our rights. The illustrations and manner in which history is presented makes the information easy to read and understand. ...[A] go-to when I want to fact check what a politician is saying about the Framers. History lovers and non-history lovers will love it! --Amazon.com

Encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past. --George T. Anagnost Arizona Attorney magazine A great book that appeals to all ages interested in an unbiased history of our country's founding fathers and their objectives. It has great coverage of famous British cases, whose outcome was abhorred by the American colonists and who, as a result, insisted that the constitution provided express safeguards prohibiting similar violations of individual rights in America. --Richard Coffinger, Attorney-at-Law Brilliant, in-depth, and entertaining history of our rights. The illustrations and manner in which history is presented makes the information easy to read and understand. ...[A] go-to when I want to fact check what a politician is saying about the Framers. History lovers and non-history lovers will love it! --Amazon.com

A great book that appeals to all ages interested in an unbiased history of our country's founding fathers and their objectives. It has great coverage of famous British cases, whose outcome was abhorred by the American colonists and who, as a result, insisted that the constitution provided express safeguards prohibiting similar violations of individual rights in America. --Richard Coffinger, Attorney-at-Law Encyclopedic in its scope and presentation of the story behind the enactment of the Bill of Rights. From start to finish, Bob McWhirter shows himself to be an excellent guide for an enjoyable journey into the past. --George T. Anagnost Arizona Attorney magazine

Author Information

Robert McWhirter is an acknowledged authority on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on which he has written and lectured widely both to academic and legal audiences as well as civic institutions. His earlier work was published by the American Bar Association. He appears regularly on Arizona Public Television's Horizon program explaining the legality and history surrounding the challenges to, and interpretation of, the Constitution. Robert also specializes in criminal law on which he has published widely. He presently practices as a criminal defense lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona.

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